Traditional Chinese - Basic Problem Statements

我有個問題

wǒ yǒu ge wèntí.

I have a problem.

Meaning: 我有個問題。 (wǒ yǒu ge wèntí.) means “I have a problem” or “I have a question,” depending on the situation.

When to use: Use it to politely start explaining that something is wrong or that you need to ask something.

好像有問題

hǎoxiàng yǒu wèntí.

Something is wrong.

Meaning: 好像有問題。 (hǎoxiàng yǒu wèntí.) means “Something seems wrong.”

When to use: Use it when you are not 100% sure, but something does not look, sound, or feel right.

它不能用

tā bù néng yòng.

It doesn't work.

Meaning: 它不能用。 (tā bù néng yòng.) means “It doesn’t work” or “It can’t be used.”

When to use: Use it for a machine, card, app, ticket, service, or object that is not functioning.

我的___不見了。

wǒ de ___ bú jiàn le.

I lost ___.

Meaning: 我的___不見了。 (wǒ de ___ bú jiàn le.) means “I lost ___.” In Taiwan, 不見了 (bú jiàn le) is a very natural way to say something is missing or lost.

When to use: Put the lost item in the blank, like 手機 (shǒujī) “phone” or 錢包 (qiánbāo) “wallet.”

Tip: Don’t translate “lost” word-for-word. In Taiwan, 我的手機不見了。 (wǒ de shǒujī bú jiàn le.) sounds more natural than a direct English-style sentence.

我迷路了

wǒ mílù le.

I'm lost.

Meaning: 我迷路了。 (wǒ mílù le.) means “I’m lost.”

When to use: Use it when you don’t know where you are or which way to go.

我覺得不舒服

wǒ juéde bù shūfú.

I feel sick.

Meaning: 我覺得不舒服。 (wǒ juéde bù shūfú.) means “I feel sick” or “I don’t feel well.”

When to use: Use it when your body feels bad but you are not sure what illness you have.

沒有___

méiyǒu ___.

There is no ___.

Meaning: 沒有___。 (méiyǒu ___.) means “There is no ___” or “We/I don’t have ___.”

When to use: Use it when something needed is missing, unavailable, or not there.

我打不開___。

Wǒ dǎ bù kāi ___.

I can't open ___.

Meaning: 我打不開___。 (Wǒ dǎ bù kāi ___.) means “I can’t open ___.”

When to use: Use it for doors, bottles, files, apps, or anything that will not open.

我沒辦法用___。

Wǒ méi bànfǎ yòng ___.

I can't use ___.

Meaning: 我沒辦法用___。 (Wǒ méi bànfǎ yòng ___.) means “I can’t use ___.”

When to use: Use it when you cannot use something because of a problem, limit, or situation.

我聽不到___。

Wǒ tīng bù dào ___.

I can't hear ___.

Meaning: 我聽不到___。 (Wǒ tīng bù dào ___.) means “I can’t hear ___.”

When to use: Use it when you cannot hear a person, sound, announcement, or audio.

我看不到___。

Wǒ kàn bù dào ___.

I can't see ___.

Meaning: 我看不到___。 (Wǒ kàn bù dào ___.) means “I can’t see ___.”

When to use: Use it when something is not visible, like a person, screen, sign, or picture.

我看不懂___。

Wǒ kàn bù dǒng ___.

I can't read ___.

Meaning: 我看不懂___。 (Wǒ kàn bù dǒng ___.) means “I can’t read/understand ___.”

When to use: Use it for written things like signs, instructions, forms, menus, or another language.

Tip: 看不懂 (kàn bù dǒng) is for reading or visual understanding. For hearing, use 聽不到 (tīng bù dào) if you cannot hear it.

我的___痛

Wǒ de ___ tòng.

My ___ hurts.

Meaning: 我的___痛。 (Wǒ de ___ tòng.) means “My ___ hurts.”

When to use: Put a body part in the blank, like 頭 (tóu) “head,” 手 (shǒu) “hand,” or 腳 (jiǎo) “foot/leg.”

Tip: Put the body part before 痛 (tòng): 我的頭痛。 (Wǒ de tóu tòng.) means “My head hurts.”