Traditional Chinese - Lesson 140 of 152: Taiwan Reactions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

借過一下

Jièguò yíxià.

Excuse me, coming through.

Meaning: 借過一下 (Jièguò yíxià) means “Excuse me, coming through.”

When to use: Use 借過一下 (Jièguò yíxià) when you need to pass through a crowd, aisle, MRT doorway, market lane, or elevator area.

Tip: Don’t use 借過一下 (Jièguò yíxià) as a general apology after bumping into someone; 不好意思 (Bù hǎoyìsi) is better for “sorry.”

借過一下，我要下車。

Jièguò yíxià, wǒ yào xià chē.

Excuse me, I need to get off.

不好意思，借過一下。

Bù hǎoyìsi, jièguò yíxià.

Sorry, excuse me, coming through.

麻煩你了

Máfan nǐ le.

Sorry to trouble you / Thanks for taking care of it.

Meaning: 麻煩你了 (Máfan nǐ le) means “Sorry to trouble you” or “Thanks for taking care of it.”

When to use: Use 麻煩你了 (Máfan nǐ le) after asking someone to help you; it makes the request softer and more appreciative.

請幫我看一下，麻煩你了。

Qǐng bāng wǒ kàn yíxià, máfan nǐ le.

Please take a look for me—sorry to trouble you.

明天再傳給我，麻煩你了。

Míngtiān zài chuán gěi wǒ, máfan nǐ le.

Please send it to me tomorrow—thanks for taking care of it.

辛苦了

Xīnkǔ le.

Thanks for your hard work.

Meaning: 辛苦了 (Xīnkǔ le) means “Thanks for your hard work.”

When to use: Use 辛苦了 (Xīnkǔ le) when someone has made effort—coworkers, delivery people, shop staff, friends, or family.

外送到了？辛苦了。

Wàisòng dào le? Xīnkǔ le.

The delivery is here? Thanks for your hard work.

今天很忙，辛苦了。

Jīntiān hěn máng, xīnkǔ le.

Today was busy—thanks for your hard work.

不會啦

Bú huì la.

Not at all / Don’t worry about it.

Meaning: 不會啦 (Bú huì la) means “Not at all” or “Don’t worry about it.”

When to use: Use 不會啦 (Bú huì la) casually after someone thanks you, apologizes, or gives you a compliment.

Tip: 不會啦 (Bú huì la) does not literally mean “I cannot” here; as a set phrase, it means “not at all” or “don’t worry.”

謝謝你。不會啦。

Xièxie nǐ. Bú huì la.

Thank you. Not at all.

沒事，不會啦

Méi shì, bú huì la.

It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.

還好啦

Hái hǎo la.

It’s okay / Not too bad.

Meaning: 還好啦 (Hái hǎo la) means “It’s okay” or “Not too bad.”

When to use: Use 還好啦 (Hái hǎo la) to downplay something—weather, difficulty, taste, price, or how you feel.

今天熱嗎？還好啦。

Jīntiān rè ma? Hái hǎo la.

Is it hot today? It’s okay.

這個會很難嗎？還好啦。

Zhège huì hěn nán ma? Hái hǎo la.

Will this be hard? Not too bad.

沒關係啦

Méi guānxì la.

It’s really okay.

Meaning: 沒關係啦 (Méi guānxì la) means “It’s really okay.”

When to use: Use 沒關係啦 (Méi guānxì la) to reassure someone after a small mistake, delay, or inconvenience.

對不起，我遲到了。沒關係啦。

Duìbùqǐ, wǒ chídào le. Méi guānxì la.

Sorry, I’m late. It’s really okay.

沒關係啦，下次再說。

Méi guānxì la, xià cì zài shuō.

It’s really okay; let’s talk about it next time.

這樣喔

Zhèyàng ō.

Oh, I see / So that’s how it is.

Meaning: 這樣喔 (Zhèyàng ō) means “Oh, I see” or “So that’s how it is.”

When to use: Use 這樣喔 (Zhèyàng ō) as a listening response when you understand the information but are not strongly agreeing or disagreeing.

今天店休。這樣喔。

Jīntiān diàn xiū. Zhèyàng ō.

The shop is closed today. Oh, I see.

他搭捷運來。這樣喔。

Tā dā jiéyùn lái. Zhèyàng ō.

He came by MRT. Oh, I see.

原來如此

Yuánlái rúcǐ.

Ah, so that’s why / I see now.

Meaning: 原來如此 (Yuánlái rúcǐ) means “Ah, so that’s why” or “I see now.”

When to use: Use 原來如此 (Yuánlái rúcǐ) when an explanation makes something clear.

這班車不到台北車站。原來如此。

Zhè bān chē bú dào Táiběi Chēzhàn. Yuánlái rúcǐ.

This train doesn’t go to Taipei Main Station. Ah, I see now.

你先線上訂票，原來如此。

Nǐ xiān xiànshàng dìng piào, yuánlái rúcǐ.

You book tickets online first—ah, so that’s how it works.

難怪

Nánguài.

No wonder.

Meaning: 難怪 (Nánguài) means “No wonder.”

When to use: Use 難怪 (Nánguài) when new information explains why something happened or why something feels true.

Tip: 難怪 (Nánguài) is a reaction to an explanation, not a way to blame someone.

他今天請假。難怪。

Tā jīntiān qǐngjià. Nánguài.

He took leave today. No wonder.

這裡在特價，難怪人很多。

Zhèlǐ zài tèjià, nánguài rén hěn duō.

There’s a sale here—no wonder there are so many people.

也是啦

Yě shì la.

That’s true, I guess.

Meaning: 也是啦 (Yě shì la) means “That’s true, I guess.”

When to use: Use 也是啦 (Yě shì la) when you softly agree after hearing someone’s point.

今天下雨，別騎車。也是啦。

Jīntiān xià yǔ, bié qí chē. Yě shì la.

It’s raining today; don’t ride a scooter. That’s true, I guess.

這家比較近。也是啦。

Zhè jiā bǐjiào jìn. Yě shì la.

This place is closer. That’s true, I guess.

對齁

Duì hōu.

Oh right!

Meaning: 對齁 (Duì hōu) means “Oh right!”

When to use: Use 對齁 (Duì hōu) casually when someone reminds you of something and you suddenly remember.

你今天要上班。對齁。

Nǐ jīntiān yào shàngbān. Duì hōu.

You have work today. Oh right!

我們約七點。對齁。

Wǒmen yuē qī diǎn. Duì hōu.

We’re meeting at seven. Oh right!

是喔

Shì ō?

Oh really?

Meaning: 是喔？ (Shì ō?) means “Oh really?”

When to use: Use 是喔？ (Shì ō?) to show interest or mild surprise in casual conversation.

他明天去台南。是喔？

Tā míngtiān qù Táinán. Shì ō?

He’s going to Tainan tomorrow. Oh really?

這個很好吃。是喔？

Zhège hěn hǎo chī. Shì ō?

This is really tasty. Oh really?

真的假的

Zhēn de jiǎ de?

Seriously?

Meaning: 真的假的？ (Zhēn de jiǎ de?) means “Seriously?”

When to use: Use 真的假的？ (Zhēn de jiǎ de?) with friends or coworkers when you hear surprising news.

今天捷運很快。真的假的？

Jīntiān jiéyùn hěn kuài. Zhēn de jiǎ de?

The MRT was fast today. Seriously?

他會說台語。真的假的？

Tā huì shuō Táiyǔ. Zhēn de jiǎ de?

He can speak Taiwanese. Seriously?

Traditional Chinese - Taiwan Reactions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

What should you say when squeezing past people in a crowded MRT station?

After asking someone to do something for you, which phrase adds polite appreciation?

What can you say to a delivery person or coworker after they worked hard?

Your friend explains why the shop is packed: everything is on sale. Which reaction means “No wonder”?

A: Thank you! B: Not at all.

A: Was today’s test hard? B: Not too bad.

A: This train doesn’t go to Taipei Main Station. B: I see now.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice