Traditional Chinese - Preferences

Lesson 33 of 152

A cozy Taipei café table with two drinks, a menu, and Traditional Chinese notes about preferences. The scene highlights Taiwan Mandarin for choosing between options in daily life.

Goal: Say what you like without sounding picky

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

Ready to become politely opinionated? In this lesson, you’ll practice choosing, comparing, and gently saying “not for me” without sounding too strong.

Preferences are where conversation gets fun: coffee or tea, early or late, spicy or mild. Yak Yacker says: no pressure—都可以 (Dōu kěyǐ) is also a personality.

Level A2: This lesson helps you talk about choices in everyday Taiwan Mandarin, from 我不介意___ (Wǒ bù jièyì ___) to 我寧可___，也不要___ (Wǒ nìngkě ___, yě bú yào ___). You’ll practice saying what you usually choose, what fits you better, what feels “too much,” and how to suggest another option. Great for cafés, dinner plans, schedules, and those tiny-but-important life decisions like hot tea vs. iced coffee.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Say when something is okay using 我不介意___ (Wǒ bù jièyì ___), 都可以 (Dōu kěyǐ), and 兩個都不錯 (Liǎng ge dōu búcuò).
  • State your usual or current preference with 我通常會選___ (Wǒ tōngcháng huì xuǎn ___) and 我現在想要___ (Wǒ xiànzài xiǎng yào ___).
  • Compare choices using ___比較適合我 (___ bǐjiào shìhé wǒ), 我比較喜歡___，勝過___ (Wǒ bǐjiào xǐhuān ___, shèngguò ___), and 我寧可___，也不要___ (Wǒ nìngkě ___, yě bú yào ___).
  • Ask others about preferences with 你有最喜歡的___嗎？ (Nǐ yǒu zuì xǐhuān de ___ ma?) and 你喜歡哪一種___？ (Nǐ xǐhuān nǎ yì zhǒng ___?)
Two friends in Taiwan looking at a colorful menu with Traditional Chinese writing, deciding what food and drinks they like. The image supports a Taiwan Mandarin lesson on preferences and practical choices.

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.

我不介意___。

Wǒ bù jièyì ___.

I don't mind ___.

Meaning: I don’t mind ___; it’s acceptable or not a problem for me.

When to use: Use this when an option is okay, even if it is not your strong favorite.

Tip: Remember the whole phrase is 我不介意___ (Wǒ bù jièyì ___). Don’t drop 不 (bù), or it changes to “I mind.”

我不介意等一下。

Wǒ bù jièyì děng yíxià.

I don’t mind waiting a bit.
我不介意坐外面。

Wǒ bù jièyì zuò wàimiàn.

I don’t mind sitting outside.

我通常會選___。

Wǒ tōngcháng huì xuǎn ___.

I usually choose ___.

Meaning: I usually choose ___; this is my typical choice.

When to use: Use this for habits or your normal go-to option.

我通常會選熱咖啡。

Wǒ tōngcháng huì xuǎn rè kāfēi.

I usually choose hot coffee.
我通常會選靠窗的位置。

Wǒ tōngcháng huì xuǎn kào chuāng de wèizhì.

I usually choose a seat by the window.

___比較適合我。

___ bǐjiào shìhé wǒ.

___ is better for me.

Meaning: ___ is better for me; it fits my needs better.

When to use: Use this for practical preferences, like time, price, location, or comfort.

早一點比較適合我。

Zǎo yìdiǎn bǐjiào shìhé wǒ.

A little earlier is better for me.
這個時間比較適合我。

Zhège shíjiān bǐjiào shìhé wǒ.

This time is better for me.

___對我來說太___了。

___ duì wǒ lái shuō tài ___ le.

___ is too ___ for me.

Meaning: ___ is too ___ for me; it explains why you don’t prefer something.

When to use: Use this to politely reject or explain a dislike with a simple reason.

Tip: Use 太___了 (tài ___ le) together. The 了 (le) helps make it sound like a natural “too much” comment.

這家店對我來說太貴了。

Zhè jiā diàn duì wǒ lái shuō tài guì le.

This place is too expensive for me.
晚上九點對我來說太晚了。

Wǎnshàng jiǔ diǎn duì wǒ lái shuō tài wǎn le.

Nine at night is too late for me.

你有最喜歡的___嗎？

Nǐ yǒu zuì xǐhuān de ___ ma?

Do you have a favorite ___?

Meaning: Do you have a favorite ___?

When to use: Use this to ask someone’s favorite item in a category.

你有最喜歡的餐廳嗎？

Nǐ yǒu zuì xǐhuān de cāntīng ma?

Do you have a favorite restaurant?
你有最喜歡的咖啡店嗎？

Nǐ yǒu zuì xǐhuān de kāfēi diàn ma?

Do you have a favorite café?

我比較喜歡___，勝過___。

Wǒ bǐjiào xǐhuān ___, shèngguò ___.

I like ___ more than ___.

Meaning: I like ___ more than ___; a clear comparison between two likes.

When to use: Use this when comparing two options and naming both sides.

我比較喜歡茶，勝過咖啡。

Wǒ bǐjiào xǐhuān chá, shèngguò kāfēi.

I like tea more than coffee.
我比較喜歡走路，勝過騎車。

Wǒ bǐjiào xǐhuān zǒulù, shèngguò qí chē.

I like walking more than biking.

我寧可___，也不要___。

Wǒ nìngkě ___, yě bú yào ___.

I'd rather ___ than ___.

Meaning: I’d rather ___ than ___; you strongly prefer one action over another.

When to use: Use this for choosing one action and rejecting the other.

Tip: Keep the pattern 我寧可___，也不要___ (Wǒ nìngkě ___, yě bú yào ___). The second half is the option you do not want.

我寧可在家吃，也不要出去排隊。

Wǒ nìngkě zài jiā chī, yě bú yào chūqù páiduì.

I’d rather eat at home than go out and wait in line.
我寧可喝水，也不要喝太甜的飲料。

Wǒ nìngkě hē shuǐ, yě bú yào hē tài tián de yǐnliào.

I’d rather drink water than drink something too sweet.

都可以

Dōu kěyǐ.

Either is fine.

Meaning: Either is fine.

When to use: Use this short answer when two options are both okay.

咖啡或茶，都可以。

Kāfēi huò chá, dōu kěyǐ.

Coffee or tea, either is fine.
你決定吧，都可以。

Nǐ juédìng ba, dōu kěyǐ.

You decide; either is fine.

兩個都不錯

Liǎng ge dōu búcuò.

Both are good.

Meaning: Both are good.

When to use: Use this when two options are acceptable or both seem nice.

這兩個都不錯，我都想試試看。

Zhè liǎng ge dōu búcuò, wǒ dōu xiǎng shìshì kàn.

Both of these are good; I want to try both.
牛肉麵和水餃？兩個都不錯。

Niúròu miàn hé shuǐjiǎo? Liǎng ge dōu búcuò.

Beef noodle soup and dumplings? Both are good.

你喜歡哪一種___？

Nǐ xǐhuān nǎ yì zhǒng ___?

What kind of ___ do you like?

Meaning: What kind of ___ do you like?

When to use: Use this to ask about someone’s preferred type, style, or category.

你喜歡哪一種飲料？

Nǐ xǐhuān nǎ yì zhǒng yǐnliào?

What kind of drink do you like?
你喜歡哪一種電影？

Nǐ xǐhuān nǎ yì zhǒng diànyǐng?

What kind of movie do you like?

不然___怎麼樣？

Bùrán ___ zěnmeyàng?

How about ___ instead?

Meaning: How about ___ instead?

When to use: Use this to suggest another option when the first one does not quite work.

不然我們吃拉麵怎麼樣？

Bùrán wǒmen chī lāmiàn zěnmeyàng?

How about we eat ramen instead?
不然明天早上怎麼樣？

Bùrán míngtiān zǎoshàng zěnmeyàng?

How about tomorrow morning instead?

我現在想要___。

Wǒ xiànzài xiǎng yào ___.

I'm in the mood for ___.

Meaning: I’m in the mood for ___; I want ___ right now.

When to use: Use this for a current craving or preference, especially food, drinks, or activities.

我現在想要一杯冰咖啡。

Wǒ xiànzài xiǎng yào yì bēi bīng kāfēi.

I’m in the mood for an iced coffee right now.
我現在想要看輕鬆的電影。

Wǒ xiànzài xiǎng yào kàn qīngsōng de diànyǐng.

I’m in the mood to watch a relaxing movie right now.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David are choosing dinner after work in Taipei.

Anna and David chatting outside a casual restaurant in Taiwan, comparing dinner options in Traditional Chinese. The scene shows Taiwan Mandarin preference phrases used in a friendly conversation.

What are Anna and David trying to choose?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

你喜歡哪一種晚餐？

Nǐ xǐhuān nǎ yì zhǒng wǎncān?

What kind of dinner do you like?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

我現在想要吃火鍋。你呢？

Wǒ xiànzài xiǎng yào chī huǒguō. Nǐ ne?

I’m in the mood for hot pot right now. How about you?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

火鍋對我來說太辣了。

Huǒguō duì wǒ lái shuō tài là le.

Hot pot is too spicy for me.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

不然義大利麵怎麼樣？

Bùrán Yìdàlì miàn zěnmeyàng?

How about pasta instead?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

兩個都不錯，可是義大利麵比較適合我。

Liǎng ge dōu búcuò, kěshì Yìdàlì miàn bǐjiào shìhé wǒ.

Both are good, but pasta is better for me.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

好，我不介意。那我們吃義大利麵吧。

Hǎo, wǒ bù jièyì. Nà wǒmen chī Yìdàlì miàn ba.

Okay, I don’t mind. Then let’s eat pasta.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

How do you say “Either is fine” in Taiwan Mandarin?

Which phrase asks “What kind of drink do you like?”

You want to say “This time is better for me.” Which is correct?

Which sentence means “I’d rather eat at home than go out”?

A: Coffee or tea? B: Either is fine.

A：咖啡和茶都有，你想喝哪一個？ B：我不挑，___

A: Tea or coffee? B: I like tea more than coffee.

A：茶和咖啡你都喝嗎？你比較喜歡哪一個？ B：___

A: This place is too expensive. B: How about the night market instead?

A：這家餐廳太貴了，我們換一個便宜一點的地方吧。 B：___

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:

我不介意___。

Wǒ bù jièyì ___.

I don't mind ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

我通常會選___。

Wǒ tōngcháng huì xuǎn ___.

I usually choose ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

___比較適合我。

___ bǐjiào shìhé wǒ.

___ is better for me.

Say this phrase out loud:

___對我來說太___了。

___ duì wǒ lái shuō tài ___ le.

___ is too ___ for me.

Say this phrase out loud:

你有最喜歡的___嗎？

Nǐ yǒu zuì xǐhuān de ___ ma?

Do you have a favorite ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

我比較喜歡___，勝過___。

Wǒ bǐjiào xǐhuān ___, shèngguò ___.

I like ___ more than ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

我寧可___，也不要___。

Wǒ nìngkě ___, yě bú yào ___.

I'd rather ___ than ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

都可以

Dōu kěyǐ.

Either is fine.

Say this phrase out loud:

兩個都不錯

Liǎng ge dōu búcuò.

Both are good.

Say this phrase out loud:

你喜歡哪一種___？

Nǐ xǐhuān nǎ yì zhǒng ___?

What kind of ___ do you like?

Say this phrase out loud:

不然___怎麼樣？

Bùrán ___ zěnmeyàng?

How about ___ instead?

Say this phrase out loud:

我現在想要___。

Wǒ xiànzài xiǎng yào ___.

I'm in the mood for ___.