Traditional Chinese - Agreeing and Disagreeing

Lesson 31 of 152

A friendly coffee shop discussion in Taiwan, with two learners practicing Traditional Chinese Taiwan Mandarin phrases for agreeing and disagreeing politely.

Goal: Say “yes, but…” without stepping on anyone’s toes.

Free traditional Chinese lessons with Taiwan Mandarin audio and speaking practice.

Sometimes you agree… kind of. Sometimes you disagree… politely. Today’s phrases help you keep the conversation friendly while still saying what you really think.

Level A2: this lesson gives you soft, natural ways to agree partly, disagree politely, and say your opinion is different. You’ll practice phrases like “Maybe, but…,” “I partly agree,” and “That’s not always true” for everyday Taiwan Mandarin conversations. Yak Yacker tip: disagreement doesn’t have to be a yak attack.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Use 也許吧，不過 ___ (Yěxǔ ba, búguò ___.) to partly agree before adding a different idea.
  • Say 這點我不太同意 (Zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài tóngyì.) or 不好意思，這點我不太同意 (Bù hǎoyìsi, zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài tóngyì.) to disagree politely.
  • Recognize mixed-agreement phrases like 我同意一部分 (Wǒ tóngyì yí bùfen.) and 算是，也不算是 (Suàn shì, yě bú suàn shì.) in real conversation.
A bright classroom-style scene showing Traditional Chinese phrase cards for Taiwan Mandarin agreement and disagreement, with speech bubbles like “maybe” and “I see it differently.”

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

也許吧，不過 ___。

Yěxǔ ba, búguò ___.

Maybe, but ___.

Meaning: 也許吧，不過 ___ (Yěxǔ ba, búguò ___.) means “Maybe, but ___.”

When to use: Use it when you want to accept that something might be true, then add a different idea.

Tip: After 不過 (búguò), add a complete idea. Don’t stop at 也許吧，不過 (Yěxǔ ba, búguò.) unless you are clearly pausing to think.

也許吧，不過今天太晚了。

Yěxǔ ba, búguò jīntiān tài wǎn le.

Maybe, but today is too late.
也許吧，不過我覺得有點貴。

Yěxǔ ba, búguò wǒ juéde yǒudiǎn guì.

Maybe, but I think it’s a little expensive.

這點我不太確定。

Zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài quèdìng.

I'm not sure about that.

Meaning: 這點我不太確定 (Zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài quèdìng.) means “I’m not sure about that.”

When to use: Use it when you have doubts but do not want to sound too direct.

這點我不太確定，可能要再查一下。

Zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài quèdìng, kěnéng yào zài chá yíxià.

I’m not sure about that; we may need to check again.
你說很便宜？這點我不太確定。

Nǐ shuō hěn piányí? Zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài quèdìng.

You say it’s cheap? I’m not sure about that.

我的看法不太一樣。

Wǒ de kànfǎ bù tài yíyàng.

I see it differently.

Meaning: 我的看法不太一樣 (Wǒ de kànfǎ bù tài yíyàng.) means “I see it differently.”

When to use: Use it to introduce your different opinion in a calm, natural way.

我的看法不太一樣，我覺得明天比較好。

Wǒ de kànfǎ bù tài yíyàng, wǒ juéde míngtiān bǐjiào hǎo.

I see it differently. I think tomorrow is better.
這件事我的看法不太一樣。

Zhè jiàn shì wǒ de kànfǎ bù tài yíyàng.

I see this matter differently.

我同意一部分

Wǒ tóngyì yí bùfen.

I partly agree.

Meaning: 我同意一部分 (Wǒ tóngyì yí bùfen.) means “I partly agree.”

When to use: Use it when you agree with some parts, but not everything.

我同意一部分，可是我還有一個問題。

Wǒ tóngyì yí bùfen, kěshì wǒ hái yǒu yí ge wèntí.

I partly agree, but I still have one question.
我同意一部分，這個方法不錯。

Wǒ tóngyì yí bùfen, zhè ge fāngfǎ búcuò.

I partly agree. This method is not bad.

___ 這點我同意，但 ___。

___ zhè diǎn wǒ tóngyì, dàn ___.

I agree about ___, but ___ .

Meaning: ___ 這點我同意，但 ___ (___ zhè diǎn wǒ tóngyì, dàn ___.) means “I agree about ___, but ___.”

When to use: Use it when you want to agree with one specific point, then limit that agreement.

Tip: Put the specific topic before 這點我同意 (zhè diǎn wǒ tóngyì), like 時間這點我同意 (shíjiān zhè diǎn wǒ tóngyì).

時間這點我同意，但價錢太高。

Shíjiān zhè diǎn wǒ tóngyì, dàn jiàqián tài gāo.

I agree about the timing, but the price is too high.
交通這點我同意，但我不喜歡這家店。

Jiāotōng zhè diǎn wǒ tóngyì, dàn wǒ bù xǐhuān zhè jiā diàn.

I agree about the transportation, but I don’t like this restaurant.

聽起來有道理

Tīng qǐlái yǒu dàolǐ.

That sounds right.

Meaning: 聽起來有道理 (Tīng qǐlái yǒu dàolǐ.) means “That sounds right.”

When to use: Use it when someone’s point sounds reasonable to you.

聽起來有道理，我們可以試試看。

Tīng qǐlái yǒu dàolǐ, wǒmen kěyǐ shì shì kàn.

That sounds right. We can try it.
你說的聽起來有道理。

Nǐ shuō de tīng qǐlái yǒu dàolǐ.

What you said sounds right.

算是，也不算是。

Suàn shì, yě bú suàn shì.

Yes and no.

Meaning: 算是，也不算是 (Suàn shì, yě bú suàn shì.) means “Yes and no.”

When to use: Use it when your answer is mixed: partly yes, partly no.

算是，也不算是。這件事有點複雜。

Suàn shì, yě bú suàn shì. Zhè jiàn shì yǒudiǎn fùzá.

Yes and no. This is a little complicated.
你覺得他說得對嗎？算是，也不算是。

Nǐ juéde tā shuō de duì ma? Suàn shì, yě bú suàn shì.

Do you think he’s right? Yes and no.

這點我不太同意。

Zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài tóngyì.

I have to disagree.

Meaning: 這點我不太同意 (Zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài tóngyì.) means “I have to disagree.”

When to use: Use it to disagree politely with one point.

這點我不太同意，我覺得他有努力。

Zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài tóngyì, wǒ juéde tā yǒu nǔlì.

I have to disagree. I think he did try hard.
你說太遠，這點我不太同意。

Nǐ shuō tài yuǎn, zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài tóngyì.

You say it’s too far; I have to disagree about that.

不好意思，這點我不太同意。

Bù hǎoyìsi, zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài tóngyì.

I'm afraid I disagree.

Meaning: 不好意思，這點我不太同意 (Bù hǎoyìsi, zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài tóngyì.) means “I’m afraid I disagree.”

When to use: Use it when you want to disagree in an extra soft and polite way.

Tip: Here 不好意思 (Bù hǎoyìsi) softens your tone. It does not mean you did something wrong.

不好意思，這點我不太同意。這個方法太慢了。

Bù hǎoyìsi, zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài tóngyì. Zhè ge fāngfǎ tài màn le.

I’m afraid I disagree. This method is too slow.
不好意思，這點我不太同意，我覺得還可以。

Bù hǎoyìsi, zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài tóngyì, wǒ juéde hái kěyǐ.

I’m afraid I disagree. I think it’s still okay.

這不一定都對

Zhè bù yídìng dōu duì.

That's not always true.

Meaning: 這不一定都對 (Zhè bù yídìng dōu duì.) means “That’s not always true.”

When to use: Use it when a statement may be too general or not fully correct.

這不一定都對，有些人喜歡早上工作。

Zhè bù yídìng dōu duì, yǒuxiē rén xǐhuān zǎoshàng gōngzuò.

That’s not always true. Some people like working in the morning.
你說年輕人都愛喝咖啡？這不一定都對。

Nǐ shuō niánqīng rén dōu ài hē kāfēi? Zhè bù yídìng dōu duì.

You say all young people love coffee? That’s not always true.

我有不同的看法。

Wǒ yǒu bùtóng de kànfǎ.

I have a different opinion.

Meaning: 我有不同的看法 (Wǒ yǒu bùtóng de kànfǎ.) means “I have a different opinion.”

When to use: Use it to clearly say your view is different before explaining.

我有不同的看法，我覺得這樣比較好。

Wǒ yǒu bùtóng de kànfǎ, wǒ juéde zhèyàng bǐjiào hǎo.

I have a different opinion. I think this way is better.
關於這個問題，我有不同的看法。

Guānyú zhè ge wèntí, wǒ yǒu bùtóng de kànfǎ.

About this question, I have a different opinion.

我懂你的意思，但 ___。

Wǒ dǒng nǐ de yìsi, dàn ___.

I understand, but ___ .

Meaning: 我懂你的意思，但 ___ (Wǒ dǒng nǐ de yìsi, dàn ___.) means “I understand, but ___.”

When to use: Use it to show you understand someone, then gently give a different view.

我懂你的意思，但我還是想試試看。

Wǒ dǒng nǐ de yìsi, dàn wǒ háishì xiǎng shì shì kàn.

I understand, but I still want to try.
我懂你的意思，但這個方法有點慢。

Wǒ dǒng nǐ de yìsi, dàn zhè ge fāngfǎ yǒudiǎn màn.

I understand, but this method is a little slow.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David are talking about working from home.

Anna and David chatting at a café in Taiwan, using Traditional Chinese Taiwan Mandarin to discuss opinions gently and respectfully.

Do Anna and David fully agree about working from home?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

我覺得在家工作比較有效率。

Wǒ juéde zài jiā gōngzuò bǐjiào yǒu xiàolǜ.

I think working from home is more efficient.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

聽起來有道理。不過有時候很難跟同事討論。

Tīng qǐlái yǒu dàolǐ. Búguò yǒu shíhòu hěn nán gēn tóngshì tǎolùn.

That sounds right. But sometimes it’s hard to discuss things with coworkers.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

也許吧，不過每天去公司也很累。

Yěxǔ ba, búguò měitiān qù gōngsī yě hěn lèi.

Maybe, but going to the office every day is tiring too.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

我同意一部分。跟同事見面這點我同意，但不用每天去。

Wǒ tóngyì yí bùfen. Gēn tóngshì jiànmiàn zhè diǎn wǒ tóngyì, dàn bú yòng měitiān qù.

I partly agree. I agree about meeting coworkers, but we don’t need to go every day.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

算是，也不算是。我懂你的意思，但我有不同的看法。

Suàn shì, yě bú suàn shì. Wǒ dǒng nǐ de yìsi, dàn wǒ yǒu bùtóng de kànfǎ.

Yes and no. I understand what you mean, but I have a different opinion.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

不好意思，這點我不太同意。一週兩天去公司剛剛好。

Bù hǎoyìsi, zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài tóngyì. Yì zhōu liǎng tiān qù gōngsī gānggāng hǎo.

I’m afraid I disagree. Going to the office two days a week is just right.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

How do you say “Maybe, but it’s too expensive”?

Which phrase means “I’m not sure about that”?

Which phrase is the softest way here to say “I’m afraid I disagree”?

Which phrase means “That’s not always true”?

Anna: This restaurant is good. David: Maybe, but it’s too far.

Anna：這家店很好。David：___太遠了。

I agree about his idea, but the time is too short.

A：我覺得他的想法很好，我們今天就做吧。B：___ 時間太短。

I understand, but I think it’s not very convenient.

A：我們明天去很遠的咖啡店開會吧。B：___ 我覺得不太方便。

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

也許吧，不過 ___。

Yěxǔ ba, búguò ___.

Maybe, but ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

這點我不太確定。

Zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài quèdìng.

I'm not sure about that.

Say this phrase out loud:

我的看法不太一樣。

Wǒ de kànfǎ bù tài yíyàng.

I see it differently.

Say this phrase out loud:

我同意一部分

Wǒ tóngyì yí bùfen.

I partly agree.

Say this phrase out loud:

___ 這點我同意，但 ___。

___ zhè diǎn wǒ tóngyì, dàn ___.

I agree about ___, but ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

聽起來有道理

Tīng qǐlái yǒu dàolǐ.

That sounds right.

Say this phrase out loud:

算是，也不算是。

Suàn shì, yě bú suàn shì.

Yes and no.

Say this phrase out loud:

這點我不太同意。

Zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài tóngyì.

I have to disagree.

Say this phrase out loud:

不好意思，這點我不太同意。

Bù hǎoyìsi, zhè diǎn wǒ bù tài tóngyì.

I'm afraid I disagree.

Say this phrase out loud:

這不一定都對

Zhè bù yídìng dōu duì.

That's not always true.

Say this phrase out loud:

我有不同的看法。

Wǒ yǒu bùtóng de kànfǎ.

I have a different opinion.

Say this phrase out loud:

我懂你的意思，但 ___。

Wǒ dǒng nǐ de yìsi, dàn ___.

I understand, but ___.