Traditional Chinese - Simple Explanations

所以才會___。

Suǒyǐ cái huì ___.

That's why ___ .

Meaning: That's why ___.

When to use: Use it after giving a reason, then explain the result. Examples: 雨下很大，所以才會塞車。 (Yǔ xià hěn dà, suǒyǐ cái huì sāichē.) / 他昨天沒睡好，所以才會這麼累。 (Tā zuótiān méi shuì hǎo, suǒyǐ cái huì zhème lèi.)

Tip: Don’t use 所以才會 (suǒyǐ cái huì) before the reason. Give the reason first, then the result.

問題是___

Wèntí shì ___.

The problem is that ___ .

Meaning: The problem is that ___.

When to use: Use it to point to the main problem. Examples: 問題是時間不夠。 (Wèntí shì shíjiān bù gòu.) / 問題是我們不知道地址。 (Wèntí shì wǒmen bù zhīdào dìzhǐ.)

Tip: 問題是 (wèntí shì) introduces the problem; it is not asking a question.

這跟___很像。

Zhè gēn ___ hěn xiàng.

It's similar to ___ .

Meaning: It's similar to ___.

When to use: Use it to explain something new by comparing it to something familiar. Examples: 這跟訂車票很像。 (Zhè gēn dìng chēpiào hěn xiàng.) / 這跟點外送很像。 (Zhè gēn diǎn wàisòng hěn xiàng.)

差別在於___。

Chābié zàiyú ___.

The difference is ___ .

Meaning: The difference is ___.

When to use: Use it to explain the key contrast between two things. Examples: 差別在於價格。 (Chābié zàiyú jiàgé.) / 差別在於你要不要登入。 (Chābié zàiyú nǐ yào bú yào dēngrù.)

Tip: 在於 (zàiyú) is a fixed phrase here; don’t split it apart.

有兩個原因：___和___。

Yǒu liǎng ge yuányīn: ___ hé ___.

There are two reasons: ___ and ___ .

Meaning: There are two reasons: ___ and ___.

When to use: Use it when you want to give two simple reasons. Examples: 有兩個原因：價格和時間。 (Yǒu liǎng ge yuányīn: jiàgé hé shíjiān.) / 有兩個原因：天氣和交通。 (Yǒu liǎng ge yuányīn: tiānqì hé jiāotōng.)

換句話說，___。

Huàn jù huà shuō, ___.

To put it another way, ___.

Meaning: To put it another way, ___.

When to use: Use it to restate the same idea more clearly. Examples: 換句話說，你不用擔心。 (Huàn jù huà shuō, nǐ bú yòng dānxīn.) / 換句話說，我們明天再決定。 (Huàn jù huà shuō, wǒmen míngtiān zài juédìng.)

最簡單的說法是___。

Zuì jiǎndān de shuōfǎ shì ___.

The easiest way to explain it is ___.

Meaning: The easiest way to explain it is ___.

When to use: Use it before giving a simple first explanation. Examples: 最簡單的說法是先試一次。 (Zuì jiǎndān de shuōfǎ shì xiān shì yí cì.) / 最簡單的說法是先看重點。 (Zuì jiǎndān de shuōfǎ shì xiān kàn zhòngdiǎn.)

這表示___

Zhè biǎoshì ___.

This means that ___.

Meaning: This means that ___.

When to use: Use it to explain what something means or what result it creates. Examples: 這表示你可以進去了。 (Zhè biǎoshì nǐ kěyǐ jìnqù le.) / 這表示會議改到下午。 (Zhè biǎoshì huìyì gǎi dào xiàwǔ.)

在這種情況下，___。

Zài zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng xià, ___.

In this case, ___.

Meaning: In this case, ___.

When to use: Use it to limit your explanation to the current situation. Examples: 在這種情況下，我們先等一下。 (Zài zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng xià, wǒmen xiān děng yí xià.) / 在這種情況下，你可以問客服。 (Zài zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng xià, nǐ kěyǐ wèn kèfú.)

簡單講就是___。

Jiǎndān jiǎng jiù shì ___.

The short answer is ___.

Meaning: The short answer is ___.

When to use: Use it before giving a direct, simple answer. Examples: 簡單講就是不用付錢。 (Jiǎndān jiǎng jiù shì bú yòng fùqián.) / 簡單講就是先休息。 (Jiǎndān jiǎng jiù shì xiān xiūxí.)

基本規則是___。

Jīběn guīzé shì ___.

The basic rule is ___.

Meaning: The basic rule is ___.

When to use: Use it to introduce a simple general rule. Examples: 基本規則是先預約。 (Jīběn guīzé shì xiān yùyuē.) / 基本規則是不要遲到。 (Jīběn guīzé shì bú yào chídào.)

簡化版就是___。

Jiǎnhuà bǎn jiù shì ___.

The simple version is ___ .

Meaning: The simple version is ___.

When to use: Use it to give a quick summary before more details. Examples: 簡化版就是先選日期。 (Jiǎnhuà bǎn jiù shì xiān xuǎn rìqí.) / 簡化版就是只看結果。 (Jiǎnhuà bǎn jiù shì zhǐ kàn jiéguǒ.)