Traditional Chinese - Conversation Repair

Lesson 46 of 152

A learner in a lively Taipei café uses Traditional Chinese conversation repair phrases in Taiwan Mandarin to ask for clarification. The scene shows friendly real-life communication with notes, a phone, and a busy background.

Goal: Keep the chat moving when things get fuzzy.

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

Even smooth conversations hit little potholes: a fast phone number, a noisy café, a name you didn’t catch. Totally normal!

Level A2: Today you’ll learn friendly repair phrases for those “wait, what?” moments. You’ll practice asking someone to repeat, write something down, spell a name, explain more simply, give an example, and check your understanding. These phrases are tiny conversation seatbelts—especially useful in Taiwan when real speech zooms by.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Ask someone to repeat with 不好意思，可以再說一次嗎？ (Bù hǎo yìsi, kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?)
  • Say you did not catch something using 我沒聽清楚 (Wǒ méi tīng qīngchǔ) and 我只聽懂一部分 (Wǒ zhǐ tīng dǒng yí bùfen)
  • Ask for clearer help with 可以請你寫下來嗎？ (Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ xiě xiàlái ma?), 可以說得簡單一點嗎？ (Kěyǐ shuō de jiǎndān yìdiǎn ma?), and 可以舉個例子嗎？ (Kěyǐ jǔ ge lìzi ma?)
  • Repair your own message with 我可以換個說法嗎？ (Wǒ kěyǐ huàn ge shuōfǎ ma?), 我再試一次 (Wǒ zài shì yí cì), and 不是 ___，是 ___ (Bú shì ___, shì ___)
Traditional Chinese flashcards for Taiwan Mandarin conversation repair are spread on a table beside bubble tea and a notebook. The focus is on repeating, spelling, writing down, and checking understanding.

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.

不好意思，可以再說一次嗎？

Bù hǎo yìsi, kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?

Sorry, can you repeat that?

Meaning: Sorry, can you repeat that?

When to use: Use this polite phrase when you missed what someone said and want them to say it again.

不好意思，可以再說一次嗎？我沒聽清楚地址。

Bù hǎo yìsi, kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma? Wǒ méi tīng qīngchǔ dìzhǐ.

Sorry, can you repeat that? I didn’t catch the address.
不好意思，可以再說一次嗎？剛剛有點吵。

Bù hǎo yìsi, kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma? Gānggāng yǒudiǎn chǎo.

Sorry, can you repeat that? It was a little noisy just now.

我沒聽清楚

Wǒ méi tīng qīngchǔ.

I didn't catch that.

Meaning: I didn’t catch that.

When to use: Use this when you heard sound, but the detail was not clear.

Tip: Use 聽清楚 (tīng qīngchǔ) when the sound or detail was unclear; use 聽懂 (tīng dǒng) when the meaning was unclear.

我沒聽清楚。你說幾點？

Wǒ méi tīng qīngchǔ. Nǐ shuō jǐ diǎn?

I didn’t catch that. What time did you say?
剛剛訊號不好，我沒聽清楚。

Gānggāng xùnhào bù hǎo, wǒ méi tīng qīngchǔ.

The signal was bad just now, so I didn’t catch that.

可以請你寫下來嗎？

Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ xiě xiàlái ma?

Can you write it down, please?

Meaning: Can you write it down, please?

When to use: Use this for addresses, names, numbers, or anything you want to see written.

可以請你寫下來嗎？這個地址有點長。

Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ xiě xiàlái ma? Zhège dìzhǐ yǒudiǎn cháng.

Can you write it down, please? This address is a little long.
電話號碼可以請你寫下來嗎？

Diànhuà hàomǎ kěyǐ qǐng nǐ xiě xiàlái ma?

Can you write the phone number down, please?

我不太確定我有沒有懂。

Wǒ bù tài quèdìng wǒ yǒu méiyǒu dǒng.

I'm not sure I understand.

Meaning: I’m not sure I understand.

When to use: Use this gentle phrase when you might understand, but you want to be careful.

我不太確定我有沒有懂，可以舉個例子嗎？

Wǒ bù tài quèdìng wǒ yǒu méiyǒu dǒng, kěyǐ jǔ ge lìzi ma?

I’m not sure I understand. Can you give me an example?
我不太確定我有沒有懂，我這樣理解對嗎？

Wǒ bù tài quèdìng wǒ yǒu méiyǒu dǒng, wǒ zhèyàng lǐjiě duì ma?

I’m not sure I understand. Did I understand correctly?

可以說得簡單一點嗎？

Kěyǐ shuō de jiǎndān yìdiǎn ma?

Can you explain it more simply?

Meaning: Can you explain it more simply?

When to use: Use this when the words or explanation are too complicated.

可以說得簡單一點嗎？我只聽懂一部分。

Kěyǐ shuō de jiǎndān yìdiǎn ma? Wǒ zhǐ tīng dǒng yí bùfen.

Can you explain it more simply? I only understood part of that.
這個規則有點難，可以說得簡單一點嗎？

Zhège guīzé yǒudiǎn nán, kěyǐ shuō de jiǎndān yìdiǎn ma?

This rule is a little hard. Can you explain it more simply?

我不知道___怎麼說。

Wǒ bù zhīdào ___ zěnme shuō.

I don't know the word for ___.

Meaning: I don’t know the word for ___.

When to use: Use this when you are missing one word and want the other person to help you.

Tip: Put the missing word or idea in the blank: 我不知道 ___ 怎麼說 (Wǒ bù zhīdào ___ zěnme shuō).

我不知道發票怎麼說。

Wǒ bù zhīdào fāpiào zěnme shuō.

I don’t know the word for receipt.
我不知道這個字怎麼說。

Wǒ bù zhīdào zhège zì zěnme shuō.

I don’t know how to say this character.

可以請你拼一下嗎？

Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ pīn yíxià ma?

Can you spell that, please?

Meaning: Can you spell that, please?

When to use: Use this when an English name, email, or word is unclear.

可以請你拼一下嗎？我沒聽清楚你的名字。

Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ pīn yíxià ma? Wǒ méi tīng qīngchǔ nǐ de míngzì.

Can you spell that, please? I didn’t catch your name.
你的 email 可以請你拼一下嗎？

Nǐ de email kěyǐ qǐng nǐ pīn yíxià ma?

Can you spell your email, please?

可以舉個例子嗎？

Kěyǐ jǔ ge lìzi ma?

Can you give me an example?

Meaning: Can you give me an example?

When to use: Use this when an example would make the meaning clearer.

這個規則我不太懂，可以舉個例子嗎？

Zhège guīzé wǒ bù tài dǒng, kěyǐ jǔ ge lìzi ma?

I don’t really understand this rule. Can you give me an example?
可以舉個例子嗎？我只聽懂一部分。

Kěyǐ jǔ ge lìzi ma? Wǒ zhǐ tīng dǒng yí bùfen.

Can you give me an example? I only understood part of that.

我這樣理解對嗎？

Wǒ zhèyàng lǐjiě duì ma?

Did I understand correctly?

Meaning: Did I understand correctly?

When to use: Use this after you summarize what you think someone meant.

所以明天十點見，我這樣理解對嗎？

Suǒyǐ míngtiān shí diǎn jiàn, wǒ zhèyàng lǐjiě duì ma?

So we meet tomorrow at ten. Did I understand correctly?
你是說要先買票，我這樣理解對嗎？

Nǐ shì shuō yào xiān mǎi piào, wǒ zhèyàng lǐjiě duì ma?

You mean we need to buy tickets first. Did I understand correctly?

我只聽懂一部分。

Wǒ zhǐ tīng dǒng yí bùfen.

I only understood part of that.

Meaning: I only understood part of that.

When to use: Use this when you caught some meaning, but not enough to feel confident.

不好意思，我只聽懂一部分。可以說得簡單一點嗎？

Bù hǎo yìsi, wǒ zhǐ tīng dǒng yí bùfen. Kěyǐ shuō de jiǎndān yìdiǎn ma?

Sorry, I only understood part of that. Can you explain it more simply?
剛剛你說得很快，我只聽懂一部分。

Gānggāng nǐ shuō de hěn kuài, wǒ zhǐ tīng dǒng yí bùfen.

You spoke very quickly just now, so I only understood part of that.

我可以換個說法嗎？

Wǒ kěyǐ huàn ge shuōfǎ ma?

Can I say it another way?

Meaning: Can I say it another way?

When to use: Use this when your first attempt did not work and you want to reformulate.

我可以換個說法嗎？我想再試一次。

Wǒ kěyǐ huàn ge shuōfǎ ma? Wǒ xiǎng zài shì yí cì.

Can I say it another way? I want to try again.
這句話有點難，我可以換個說法嗎？

Zhè jù huà yǒudiǎn nán, wǒ kěyǐ huàn ge shuōfǎ ma?

This sentence is a little hard. Can I say it another way?

我再試一次

Wǒ zài shì yí cì.

Let me try again.

Meaning: Let me try again.

When to use: Use this after a mistake, pause, or misunderstanding when you want to restart.

我再試一次。不是三點，是四點。

Wǒ zài shì yí cì. Bú shì sān diǎn, shì sì diǎn.

Let me try again. Not three o’clock, but four o’clock.
我再試一次，我不知道 receipt 怎麼說。

Wǒ zài shì yí cì, wǒ bù zhīdào receipt zěnme shuō.

Let me try again. I don’t know the word for receipt.

不是 ___，是 ___。

Bú shì ___, shì ___.

Not ___, but ___.

Meaning: Not ___, but ___.

When to use: Use this to correct one detail directly, such as a name, time, place, or word.

Tip: Because 是 (shì) has a fourth tone, 不 (bù) changes to bú in 不是 (bú shì).

不是 Anna，是 Sarah。

Bú shì Anna, shì Sarah.

Not Anna, but Sarah.
不是咖啡，是奶茶。

Bú shì kāfēi, shì nǎichá.

Not coffee, but milk tea.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna is trying to confirm the location of an event with David.

Anna and David talk in Taiwan Mandarin using Traditional Chinese phrases to clarify a location. Anna listens carefully while David writes the information down on his phone.

What are Anna and David trying to clarify?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

不好意思，可以再說一次嗎？我沒聽清楚。

Bù hǎo yìsi, kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma? Wǒ méi tīng qīngchǔ.

Sorry, can you repeat that? I didn’t catch it.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

我說，活動在信義區的松山文創園區。

Wǒ shuō, huódòng zài Xìnyì Qū de Sōngshān Wénchuàng Yuánqū.

I said the event is at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Xinyi District.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

我只聽懂一部分。可以請你寫下來嗎？

Wǒ zhǐ tīng dǒng yí bùfen. Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ xiě xiàlái ma?

I only understood part of that. Can you write it down, please?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

可以。松山文創園區。

Kěyǐ. Sōngshān Wénchuàng Yuánqū.

Sure. Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

可以請你拼一下 Songshan 嗎？

Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ pīn yíxià Songshan ma?

Can you spell Songshan, please?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

S-O-N-G-S-H-A-N。

S-O-N-G-S-H-A-N.

S-O-N-G-S-H-A-N.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

所以是松山文創園區，不是松山車站。我這樣理解對嗎？

Suǒyǐ shì Sōngshān Wénchuàng Yuánqū, bú shì Sōngshān Chēzhàn. Wǒ zhèyàng lǐjiě duì ma?

So it’s Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, not Songshan Station. Did I understand correctly?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

對！我再傳地址給你。

Duì! Wǒ zài chuán dìzhǐ gěi nǐ.

Right! I’ll send you the address too.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase politely asks someone to repeat what they said?

Which phrase asks someone to write the information down?

Which phrase checks whether your understanding is correct?

Which phrase means “Not ___, but ___”?

Sorry, can you repeat that?

老師剛剛說得有點快，我沒聽清楚。不好意思，___

This address is a little long. Can you write it down, please?

這個地址有點長，我怕聽錯。___

This explanation is a little hard. Can you explain it more simply?

這個說明有點難，我不太懂。___

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:

不好意思，可以再說一次嗎？

Bù hǎo yìsi, kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?

Sorry, can you repeat that?

Say this phrase out loud:

我沒聽清楚

Wǒ méi tīng qīngchǔ.

I didn't catch that.

Say this phrase out loud:

可以請你寫下來嗎？

Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ xiě xiàlái ma?

Can you write it down, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

我不太確定我有沒有懂。

Wǒ bù tài quèdìng wǒ yǒu méiyǒu dǒng.

I'm not sure I understand.

Say this phrase out loud:

可以說得簡單一點嗎？

Kěyǐ shuō de jiǎndān yìdiǎn ma?

Can you explain it more simply?

Say this phrase out loud:

我不知道___怎麼說。

Wǒ bù zhīdào ___ zěnme shuō.

I don't know the word for ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

可以請你拼一下嗎？

Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ pīn yíxià ma?

Can you spell that, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

可以舉個例子嗎？

Kěyǐ jǔ ge lìzi ma?

Can you give me an example?

Say this phrase out loud:

我這樣理解對嗎？

Wǒ zhèyàng lǐjiě duì ma?

Did I understand correctly?

Say this phrase out loud:

我只聽懂一部分。

Wǒ zhǐ tīng dǒng yí bùfen.

I only understood part of that.

Say this phrase out loud:

我可以換個說法嗎？

Wǒ kěyǐ huàn ge shuōfǎ ma?

Can I say it another way?

Say this phrase out loud:

我再試一次

Wǒ zài shì yí cì.

Let me try again.

Say this phrase out loud:

不是 ___，是 ___。

Bú shì ___, shì ___.

Not ___, but ___.