Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 151 of 240

New here? This is lesson 151 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.

Start hereHow this works

Explaining a problem in Traditional Chinese

At the co-working space, Maya's laptop suddenly shows an error. A-Li notices the screen and says it looks familiar, but he cannot explain why yet.

Learn to describe what is wrong, compare how something worked before with how it works now, and report when the problem began.

Then ask someone to come take a look. The scene keeps the mystery light: A-Li is observant, not magical, and his drink remains unfinished.

By the end of this lesson

Describe what is wrong, say how it has changed and when it began, report what a screen shows, and ask someone to come take a look.

  • 這個好像出問題了This seems to have a problem.
  • 它運作得不太正常It's not working normally.
  • 之前都好好的，但現在不行It was fine before, but it's not working now.
  • 螢幕上顯示___The screen shows ___.
  • 問題是從昨天開始的The problem started yesterday.
  • 能請你過來看看嗎？Could you come over and take a look?

Scene — a laptop problem

At the Da'an co-working space, Maya's laptop stops behaving normally while she is preparing a project. A-Li spots the screen from the next table.

She explains what changed and when it began, then asks for someone to check it. A-Li recognizes the display, but the reason is not clear.

In a Da'an coworking loft, Maya sits startled at an open laptop while A-Li, on two stools at the next place, turns to look at her screen.

Learn — describe what is wrong

These lines help you report a problem clearly and give useful details about it.

Notice how the wording compares an earlier normal state with a different situation now.

  1. A-Li leans from two stools toward Maya's laptop with a concerned look while she sits back from the keys.

    這個好像出問題了

    This seems to have a problem.

    When to use it: Use this to report that something seems to be wrong.

    好像 softens the claim, so you report a problem without sounding certain.

  2. Maya frames her open laptop with both hands, head tilted in frustration, while A-Li drinks bubble tea on two stools.

    它運作得不太正常

    It's not working normally.

    When to use it: Use this to describe a device or system that is not working as usual.

    得 connects 運作 to the description that follows.

    Say it: 得 is neutral here, after the verb and before its description.

  3. Maya sits back with an open-handed gesture at the laptop as if it used to work, while A-Li minds his own screen on two stools.

    之前都好好的，但現在不行

    It was fine before, but it's not working now.

    When to use it: Use this to contrast an earlier normal state with a problem now.

    之前…但現在… contrasts how things were earlier with how they are now.

  4. A-Li leans in from the next table and studies a smeared glow on Maya's laptop while she watches him.

    螢幕上顯示___

    The screen shows ___.

    When to use it: Use this frame to report the exact message visible on a screen.

    Replace the blank with the exact message shown on the screen.

  5. Maya rubs her temple, weary, with a hand on the laptop, while A-Li looks down at a pastry.

    問題是從昨天開始的

    The problem started yesterday.

    When to use it: Use this to say when a problem began.

    從昨天開始 gives the starting point in the past.

  6. Maya twists in her chair and beckons A-Li over while he stays on his stools but shifts his weight toward her.

    能請你過來看看嗎？

    Could you come over and take a look?

    When to use it: Use this polite request when you want someone to come and check something.

    能請你 softens a request before the action you want someone to do.

Story — a familiar screen

Maya's laptop has started showing an error at the co-working space. She asks the staff to look, and A-Li recognizes the screen.

She also tells the staff when the problem began and asks for a closer check.

  1. Maya不好意思，這個好像出問題了。Excuse me, this seems to have a problem.
  2. Co-working staff怎麼了？What's wrong?
  3. Maya它運作得不太正常。It's not working normally.
  4. Maya之前都好好的，但現在不行。It was fine before, but it's not working now.
  5. Maya你可以幫我看一下嗎？Can you take a look for me?
  6. Co-working staff可以，我看看。Sure, I'll take a look.
  7. A-Li欸，這個畫面我好像看過。Hey, I think I've seen this screen before.
  8. Maya螢幕上顯示「更新失敗」。The screen shows “Update failed.”
  9. Maya我不懂。I don't understand.
  10. A-Li我不確定，不過看起來像更新的提示。I'm not sure, but it looks like an update notice.
  11. Maya問題是從昨天開始的。The problem started yesterday.
  12. Maya能請你過來看看嗎？Could you come over and take a look?
  13. Co-working staff可以，我現在過去看看。Sure, I'll come over and take a look now.

Practice — explain the problem

Try eight exercises to describe a device problem, identify what appears on the screen, and ask for help.

Read each situation carefully so your answer gives the right information or makes the right request.

0 of 8 done

  1. What does it mean?

    這個好像出問題了

  2. Fill the gap

    It's not working normally.

    它運作得____太正常

  3. Fill the gap

    It was fine before, but it's not working now.

    ____都好好的，但現在不行

  4. What do you say?

    A technician wants a report of what appears on the display. Choose the line that says what the screen shows.

  5. What did you hear?

  6. What do you say?

    Ask the co-working staff to come over and look at your laptop.

  7. Pick the reply

    Co-working staff says:

    你看得懂這個訊息嗎？

    Do you understand this message?

    And you reply with:

  8. What do you say?

    Ask A-Li to take a look at the screen beside you.

Say it — ask someone to check

You are Maya, explaining the laptop problem to the people at the co-working space.

Say what changed, tell them when it started, and make a polite request for help. Listen to each cue before your turn.

  1. Maya (you)Tell the staff that something seems to be wrong.

    這個好像出問題了

    This seems to have a problem.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
這個好像出問題了This seems to have a problem.
它運作得不太正常It's not working normally.
之前都好好的，但現在不行It was fine before, but it's not working now.
螢幕上顯示___The screen shows ___.
問題是從昨天開始的The problem started yesterday.
能請你過來看看嗎？Could you come over and take a look?
Next: lesson 152What happened first

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's practical problem-solving lines are in Yak Cards with more useful phrases for everyday errands.

Review the cards after practice and try using one the next time something does not work as expected.

Open Yak Cards