New here? This is lesson 90 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
Good news, bad news in Traditional Chinese
On a Taipei morning, Yi-Jun arrives with a story about her friend’s missing phone. It vanished, caused a missed call, and then turned up in an unexpected place.
Practice reacting to surprising news, showing sympathy, and checking whether someone is okay. Notice how people may retell small events with a little extra drama.
At Banyan Breakfast, Maya hears both the bad news and the good news. A-Li is nearby, and his soy milk remains unfinished.
By the end of this lesson
React to surprising news, show sympathy about bad news, celebrate good news, and ask whether someone is okay.
- 真的嗎？Really?
- 那真可惜That's a pity.
- 這真是好消息That's great news.
- 聽到這個我很難過I'm sorry to hear that.
- 你還好嗎？Are you okay?
- 發生什麼事了？What happened?
Scene — a story at breakfast
At Banyan Breakfast in Da'an, Yi-Jun tells Maya about her friend’s missing phone. The story gets bigger as Yi-Jun recounts both the loss and the discovery.
A-Li is nearby with his soy milk, still unfinished. The reactions are ordinary Taipei conversation; the strange part is how dramatically a small phone search grows.
Learn — reacting to news
These six expressions help you react when someone shares good news, bad news, or a surprise. Listen for how each response fits the moment.
Some reactions show sympathy; others invite the speaker to explain or let you check on them.
真的嗎？
Really?
When to use it: Use this to show surprise when someone tells you unexpected news.
Use it as a complete reaction when you want the speaker to confirm surprising news.
那真可惜
That's a pity.
When to use it: Say this when someone shares an unfortunate result or missed opportunity.
This is a ready-to-use response to disappointing news.
這真是好消息
That's great news.
When to use it: Use this to celebrate a welcome or positive update.
Use this as a complete reaction when someone shares welcome news.
聽到這個我很難過
I'm sorry to hear that.
When to use it: Say this to show sadness after hearing about someone's upsetting experience.
This response tells the other person that their bad news affects you.
你還好嗎？
Are you okay?
When to use it: Ask this when someone seems worried, upset, or unwell.
嗎 makes this a yes-or-no question.
發生什麼事了？
What happened?
When to use it: Ask this when you want someone to explain a problem or surprising event.
「了」 marks the event as having happened; 發生什麼事了？ asks what happened.
Story — Yi-Jun's growing story
Yi-Jun shares news about her friend’s lost phone at Banyan Breakfast. Maya reacts as the details grow more dramatic.
The phone turns up, but the retelling grows even bigger. A-Li sits nearby with his unfinished soy milk.
Yi-Jun早安，瑪雅！Good morning, Maya!
Maya早安！Good morning!- Yi-Jun我朋友今天好像遇到麻煩了。My friend seems to have run into trouble today.
- Maya真的嗎？Really?
- Maya發生什麼事了？What happened?
- Yi-Jun她手機不見了，還錯過媽媽的電話。Her phone was missing, and she missed a call from her mom.
- Maya聽到這個我很難過。I'm sorry to hear that.
- Yi-Jun她找了一整晚，還錯過了晚餐。She looked all night and even missed dinner.
- Maya那真可惜。That's a pity.
- Yi-Jun我也跟著緊張，差點打電話找她。I got nervous too and almost called around looking for her.
- Maya你還好嗎？Are you okay?
- Yi-Jun我還好啦！她剛剛在外套口袋找到手機了！I'm okay! She just found her phone in her coat pocket!
- Maya這真是好消息！That's great news!
- Yi-Jun她說手機失蹤了三天，差點上新聞！She says the phone was missing for three days and almost made the news!
Practice — respond to the news
Work through quick choices, word tiles, and short replies to practise reacting naturally. You will also review two familiar greetings.
Choose the response that fits the news, rather than repeating the story word for word.
0 of 10 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
真的嗎？
What do you say?
What do you say?
Your friend says she missed dinner while searching all evening for her phone. React with pity.
Build the line
Build the line
That's great news.
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I'm sorry to hear that.
聽到這個我很____
Match the pairs
Traditional Chinese
真的嗎？Drop the English here那真可惜Drop the English here這真是好消息Drop the English here聽到這個我很難過Drop the English hereEnglish
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Pick the reply
Yi-Jun says:
Pick the reply
她剛剛找到手機了！
She just found her phone!
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
You meet Yi-Jun at the breakfast shop in the morning. Greet her.
Pick the reply
Auntie Lin says:
Pick the reply
你好嗎？
How are you?
And you reply with:
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Say it — your reactions
You play Maya and respond to Yi-Jun as she tells you about her friend’s missing phone. Listen to each update, then say the reaction that fits.
Speak each line out loud before continuing. The story gets bigger with every new detail.
- Yi-Jun tells Maya that her friend has lost her phone.
- Yi-Jun我朋友的手機不見了！My friend lost her phone!
- Maya (you)Show surprise and ask if you heard correctly.
Show surprise and ask if you heard correctly.
真的嗎？
Really?
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 真的嗎？ | Really? | |
| 那真可惜 | That's a pity. | |
| 這真是好消息 | That's great news. | |
| 聽到這個我很難過 | I'm sorry to hear that. | |
| 你還好嗎？ | Are you okay? | |
| 發生什麼事了？ | What happened? |
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Review today's reactions and more everyday expressions in Yak Cards.
Practise a few cards each day so your reactions come naturally.
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