Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 215 of 240

New here? This is lesson 215 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.

Start hereHow this works

A short presentation in Traditional Chinese

Maya stands at the front of the meeting room at the design studio. Zhi-Ming waits, and A-Li holds the clicker with both hooves.

Learn how to open a short talk, mark three points in order, and close by inviting questions.

These lines keep a presentation clear even when you feel nervous. A-Li may click too soon, but the talk still has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

By the end of this lesson

Open a short talk, mark three points in order, and close by inviting questions.

  • 今天我想跟大家分享三件事Today I'd like to share three things with you.
  • 首先First.
  • 其次Second.
  • 最後Finally.
  • 以上是我的報告That's my presentation.
  • 歡迎提問Questions welcome.

Scene — a first presentation

The meeting room at Zhi-Ming's studio is small and bright. Maya has notes ready. A-Li sits on two stools by the projector and holds the clicker.

Zhi-Ming is ready to hear three points. The fortune slip is not in this room, and A-Li's soy milk is still waiting back at the shop.

A small bright Taipei studio meeting room where Maya stands with notes, Zhi-Ming sits ready to listen, and A-Li the yak holds a clicker while sitting on two stools by the projector.

Learn — open, three points, close

Here are six lines for opening a talk, ordering three points, and closing. Listen, then say each one out loud.

Notice how 首先, 其次, and 最後 keep the three points easy to follow.

  1. Maya begins her talk with an open sharing gesture toward seated Zhi-Ming, notes in her other hand, while A-Li the yak watches from two stools.

    今天我想跟大家分享三件事

    Today I'd like to share three things with you.

    When to use it: Use this to open a short talk and say you will cover three points.

    件 is the measure word for matters, so three things is 三件事.

    Say it: The measure word before 事 is a fourth tone.

  2. Maya lifts one finger toward the projector for her first point while A-Li the yak presses the clicker and Zhi-Ming turns toward the screen.

    首先

    First.

    When to use it: Use this to begin the first of several points.

    首先 marks the first point when more points will follow.

  3. Maya looks down at her notes and points toward the screen for the second point, while A-Li the yak holds the clicker up and Zhi-Ming rests his chin on his hand.

    其次

    Second.

    When to use it: Use this to move to the second point after the first.

    其次 follows a first point and does not open a talk.

  4. Maya steps forward with both hands open for the last point, notes left on the table, while Zhi-Ming nods and A-Li the yak leans on the extra stool.

    最後

    Finally.

    When to use it: Use this to introduce your last point before you close.

    最後 tells listeners this is the last point, then you wrap up.

  5. Maya closes her notes with a small nod as the talk ends, Zhi-Ming claps, and A-Li the yak claps from the two stools.

    以上是我的報告

    That's my presentation.

    When to use it: Use this when you have finished presenting and are ready to stop.

    以上 points back at what you already said, not at what comes next.

    Say it: 的 is a light neutral tone here.

  6. Maya leans in with both palms open inviting questions while Zhi-Ming raises a hand.

    歡迎提問

    Questions welcome.

    When to use it: Use this after you finish to invite questions from the room.

    After this, pause and wait; you are no longer presenting.

Story — Maya talks, A-Li clicks

Listen as Maya gives her first short talk in Chinese. A-Li holds the clicker, and Zhi-Ming waits for three clear points.

The talk is ordinary work talk, not a mystery.

  1. Zhi-Ming瑪雅，準備好了嗎？Maya, are you ready?
  2. Maya準備好了，謝謝。I'm ready, thanks.
  3. Maya一開始我有點緊張。At first I was a bit nervous.
  4. A-Li沒關係，投影片我來按。It's okay, I'll click the slides.
  5. Maya今天我想跟大家分享三件事。Today I'd like to share three things with you.
  6. A-Li好喔，第一頁。Okay, first slide.
  7. Maya首先，設計稿已經完成了。First, the design draft is finished.
  8. Maya這樣聽得懂嗎？Does that make sense?
  9. Zhi-Ming聽得懂，繼續吧。It makes sense, go on.
  10. Maya其次，目前進度是八成。Second, we're about eighty percent done.
  11. A-Li欸，我是不是按太快了？Wait, did I click too fast?
  12. Maya慢慢來，不用急。Take your time, no rush.
  13. Maya最後，預計禮拜五交。Finally, we expect to deliver Friday.
  14. Zhi-Ming時間有點緊喔。Time is a bit tight.
  15. Maya以上是我的報告。That's my presentation.
  16. Maya歡迎提問。Questions welcome.
  17. A-Li辛苦了。Thanks for your hard work.

Practice — run the short talk

Try these exercises to open, order, and close a short presentation. Pick the line that fits each moment.

After each answer, read why it fits, then say the line again.

0 of 11 done

  1. What does it mean?

    今天我想跟大家分享三件事

  2. What do you say?

    You have just opened the talk. Begin the first of your three points.

  3. Fill the gap

    That's my presentation.

    ____是我的報告

  4. What did you hear?

  5. Build the line

    Questions welcome.

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Swap the word

    You are opening the talk. Choose the verb that means you will share three things.

    今天我想跟大家____三件事

  7. Match the pairs

    Traditional Chinese

    首先Drop the English here
    其次Drop the English here
    最後Drop the English here
    歡迎提問Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Traditional Chinese, or tap one and then the other.

  8. What do you say?

    You already gave the first two points. Introduce the last one.

  9. What does it mean?

    一開始我有點緊張

  10. What do you say?

    You already said first. Now give the point that the design draft is finished.

  11. What does it mean?

    慢慢來，不用急

Say it — your presentation

You play Maya and give the short presentation. Listen to each cue, then say the line out loud.

Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay the other person's line before your turn.

  1. Maya starts her first presentation. A-Li holds the clicker.
  2. Maya (you)Open the talk and say you have three things to share.

    今天我想跟大家分享三件事

    Today I'd like to share three things with you.

0 of 8 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
今天我想跟大家分享三件事Today I'd like to share three things with you.
首先First.
其次Second.
最後Finally.
以上是我的報告That's my presentation.
歡迎提問Questions welcome.
Next: lesson 216Sound natural

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 presentation lines are in Yak Cards with more useful lines for meetings and talks.

Review a few of these cards before your next meeting so the opening comes easily.

Open Yak Cards