Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 159 of 240

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Mixed feelings in Traditional Chinese

Maya's first year on Banyan Lane is almost over. At breakfast, Yi-Jun asks whether she will stay. Auntie Lin has a view, and A-Li is still nursing the same soy milk.

Learn how to say you feel torn, see both sides, and lean one way for now. Ask why someone said that, agree that a point makes sense, and check if it is worth it.

These lines help you weigh a real choice without rushing to decide.

By the end of this lesson

Say you feel torn, see both sides, lean one way for now, and ask if it is worth it.

  • 我對這件事有點矛盾I'm a bit torn about this.
  • 兩邊我都能理解I can understand both sides.
  • 目前我比較傾向第一個For now I lean toward the first.
  • 你為什麼會這麼說？Why do you say that?
  • 這點滿合理的That makes sense.
  • 你覺得值得嗎？Do you think it's worth it?

Scene — another year on the table

Late afternoon at Banyan Breakfast in Da'an. Maya and Yi-Jun sit near the window, talking about whether Maya should stay another year.

Auntie Lin wipes the counter and listens in. A-Li occupies two stools at the back, his soy milk still unfinished. Nobody needs to solve a fortune today.

Maya and Yi-Jun sit small at a window table in late-afternoon Banyan Breakfast while Auntie Lin wipes the counter.

Learn — torn, both sides, a lean

Here are six lines for mixed feelings and weighing two options. Listen, then say each one out loud.

Notice 滿 in 滿合理的. It is a common Taiwan way to say a point is quite reasonable.

  1. From above, Maya sits at the window with hands stalled between two breakfast cups while Yi-Jun watches from the far stool.

    我對這件事有點矛盾

    I'm a bit torn about this.

    When to use it: Use this when a choice pulls you both ways.

    件 is the measure word that sits with 事 in 這件事.

  2. Over Maya's shoulder, Yi-Jun holds both palms open as if weighing two options while Maya looks into a drink.

    兩邊我都能理解

    I can understand both sides.

    When to use it: Use this when both options make sense to you.

    都 follows 我 here and indicates that you can understand both sides.

    Say it: 理解 is two third tones, so the first one rises.

  3. Maya draws the nearer cup and a transit card across the table and leaves the farther cup untouched.

    目前我比較傾向第一個

    For now I lean toward the first.

    When to use it: Use this to show a lean, not a final choice.

    目前 keeps the lean in the present, so you can still change.

  4. From low beside the table, Yi-Jun leans forward with an open hand toward Maya, who looks down at the cup already pulled close.

    你為什麼會這麼說？

    Why do you say that?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want the reason behind a remark.

    為什麼 stays in its Chinese place; you do not put it first like English why.

    Say it: The last syllable of 為什麼 is a neutral tone.

  5. Auntie Lin pauses mid-wipe at the counter and nods toward the window while A-Li the yak occupies two stools beside unfinished soy milk.

    這點滿合理的

    That makes sense.

    When to use it: Use this to accept a point without fully agreeing.

    滿 is a Taiwan way to say the point is quite reasonable.

    Say it: The 的 at the end is a neutral tone.

  6. Maya turns fully toward Yi-Jun with open hands on the table, waiting on an answer.

    你覺得值得嗎？

    Do you think it's worth it?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want someone to weigh the cost.

    嗎 turns this into a yes-or-no question about value.

    Say it: The 得 in 值得 has a second tone.

Story — stay or go home

Listen as Maya weighs staying another year. Yi-Jun and Auntie Lin both have views, and Maya can see both sides clearly.

A-Li stays at his table. His drink is still not finished.

  1. Yi-Jun你對這件事有什麼看法？What's your view on this?
  2. Maya我對這件事有點矛盾。I'm a bit torn about this.
  3. Yi-Jun你為什麼會這麼說？Why do you say that?
  4. Maya兩邊我都能理解。I can understand both sides.
  5. Auntie Lin美女，留下來，還是回去？Stay, or go back?
  6. Maya我還沒決定。I haven't decided yet.
  7. Yi-Jun留下來比較穩啊。工作也習慣了。Staying is more stable. The work is familiar too.
  8. Maya這點滿合理的。That makes sense.
  9. Auntie Lin可是家裡的人會想你吧。But the people at home will miss you, right?
  10. Maya目前我比較傾向第一個。For now I lean toward the first.
  11. Auntie Lin我覺得這是個好主意。I think it's a good idea.
  12. Yi-Jun你覺得值得嗎？Do you think it's worth it?
  13. Maya值得吧。只是還要想一下。It's worth it, I guess. I just still need to think a bit.
  14. A-Li豆漿還是沒喝完。The soy milk still isn't finished.

Practice — weigh both sides

Work through ten short exercises on these mixed-feeling lines. Pick, build, and swap to match each moment.

After each answer, read why the other choice fails, then say the line again.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    我對這件事有點矛盾

  2. What do you say?

    Yi-Jun has not given her view yet. You want her overall take on staying another year.

  3. Build the line

    That makes sense.

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    For now I lean toward the first.

    目前我比較傾向____個

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Swap the word

    Yi-Jun thinks staying is okay. You want to ask if that extra year is worth it.

    你覺得____嗎？

  7. Match the pairs

    Traditional Chinese

    我對這件事有點矛盾Drop the English here
    兩邊我都能理解Drop the English here
    這點滿合理的Drop the English here
    你覺得值得嗎？Drop the English here

    English

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

  8. Fill the gap

    I can understand both sides.

    兩邊我____能理解

  9. Pick the reply

    Yi-Jun says:

    那你決定了嗎？

    Have you decided, then?

    And you reply with:

  10. What do you say?

    Yi-Jun says one more year would help your Chinese. You like that plan.

Say it — your mixed feelings

You play Maya at Banyan Breakfast. Yi-Jun asks about the year ahead. Listen to each cue, then say how you feel.

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

  1. Yi-Jun sets down her cup and asks about the year ahead.
  2. Yi-Jun你對這件事有什麼看法？What's your view on this?
  3. Maya (you)Say you are a bit torn about this.

    我對這件事有點矛盾

    I'm a bit torn about this.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
我對這件事有點矛盾I'm a bit torn about this.
兩邊我都能理解I can understand both sides.
目前我比較傾向第一個For now I lean toward the first.
你為什麼會這麼說？Why do you say that?
這點滿合理的That makes sense.
你覺得值得嗎？Do you think it's worth it?
Next: lesson 160I agree

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

These mixed-feeling lines are in Yak Cards with more ways to weigh a choice.

Review a few cards each day so both sides come easily in conversation.

Open Yak Cards