Today we’re learning the little “social glue” phrases that make you sound more natural when you pause, think, clarify, or gently restart.
Level A2: In this lesson, you’ll practice friendly fillers like 我想一下 (Wǒ xiǎng yíxià), 等一下 (Děng yíxià), 其實 (Qíshí), and 所以 (Suǒyǐ). These phrases help you avoid awkward silence, buy a moment to think, and keep your Taiwan Mandarin flowing. Your yak may pause, but the conversation doesn’t have to!
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Pause naturally with 我想一下 (Wǒ xiǎng yíxià), 等一下 (Děng yíxià), and 等我一下 (Děng wǒ yíxià).
Clarify or restate with 我是說 (Wǒ shì shuō) and 其實 (Qíshí).
Organize your ideas with 所以 (Suǒyǐ), 重點是 (Zhòngdiǎn shì), and 我不太確定，不過 (Wǒ bú tài quèdìng, búguò).
Recover smoothly when you lose your train of thought with 我剛剛在說什麼來著 (Wǒ gānggāng zài shuō shénme láizhe) and 我剛剛講到哪裡了 (Wǒ gānggāng jiǎng dào nǎlǐ le).
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.
我想一下
Wǒ xiǎng yíxià.
Let me think.
Meaning: Let me think.
When to use: Use 我想一下 (Wǒ xiǎng yíxià) when you need a short thinking pause. Examples: 我想一下，明天可以嗎？ (Wǒ xiǎng yíxià, míngtiān kěyǐ ma?) Let me think—does tomorrow work? / 你問我嗎？我想一下。 (Nǐ wèn wǒ ma? Wǒ xiǎng yíxià.) Are you asking me? Let me think.
我想一下，明天可以嗎？
Wǒ xiǎng yíxià, míngtiān kěyǐ ma?
Let me think—does tomorrow work?
你問我嗎？我想一下。
Nǐ wèn wǒ ma? Wǒ xiǎng yíxià.
Are you asking me? Let me think.
等一下
Děng yíxià.
Just a moment.
Meaning: Just a moment.
When to use: Use 等一下 (Děng yíxià) to ask someone to wait briefly. Examples: 等一下，我找一下鑰匙。 (Děng yíxià, wǒ zhǎo yíxià yàoshi.) Just a moment, I’ll look for my keys. / 等一下，我還沒好。 (Děng yíxià, wǒ hái méi hǎo.) Just a moment, I’m not ready yet.
Tip: 等一下 (Děng yíxià) is neutral. 等我一下 (Děng wǒ yíxià) feels a bit more casual and personal: “wait for me a sec.”
等一下，我找一下鑰匙。
Děng yíxià, wǒ zhǎo yíxià yàoshi.
Just a moment, I’ll look for my keys.
等一下，我還沒好。
Děng yíxià, wǒ hái méi hǎo.
Just a moment, I’m not ready yet.
等我一下
Děng wǒ yíxià.
One second.
Meaning: One second.
When to use: Use 等我一下 (Děng wǒ yíxià) with friends or in casual situations when someone should wait for you. Examples: 等我一下，我馬上來。 (Děng wǒ yíxià, wǒ mǎshàng lái.) One second, I’ll be right there. / 等我一下，我拿手機。 (Děng wǒ yíxià, wǒ ná shǒujī.) One second, I’ll grab my phone.
等我一下，我馬上來。
Děng wǒ yíxià, wǒ mǎshàng lái.
One second, I’ll be right there.
等我一下，我拿手機。
Děng wǒ yíxià, wǒ ná shǒujī.
One second, I’ll grab my phone.
該怎麼說呢
Gāi zěnme shuō ne?
How can I say this?
Meaning: How can I say this?
When to use: Use 該怎麼說呢？ (Gāi zěnme shuō ne?) when you are searching for the right words. Examples: 該怎麼說呢？這家店很特別。 (Gāi zěnme shuō ne? Zhè jiā diàn hěn tèbié.) How can I say this? This place is very unique. / 該怎麼說呢？我有一點緊張。 (Gāi zěnme shuō ne? Wǒ yǒu yìdiǎn jǐnzhāng.) How can I say this? I’m a little nervous.
Tip: Don’t translate word by word as 怎麼可以說 (zěnme kěyǐ shuō). 該怎麼說呢？ (Gāi zěnme shuō ne?) is the natural filler.
該怎麼說呢？這家店很特別。
Gāi zěnme shuō ne? Zhè jiā diàn hěn tèbié.
How can I say this? This place is very unique.
該怎麼說呢？我有一點緊張。
Gāi zěnme shuō ne? Wǒ yǒu yìdiǎn jǐnzhāng.
How can I say this? I’m a little nervous.
我是說，___。
Wǒ shì shuō, ___.
I mean, ___.
Meaning: I mean, ___.
When to use: Use 我是說，___。 (Wǒ shì shuō, ___.) to clarify, correct, or restate what you said. Examples: 我是說，今天不要太晚。 (Wǒ shì shuō, jīntiān bú yào tài wǎn.) I mean, let’s not be too late today. / 我是說，我想坐捷運。 (Wǒ shì shuō, wǒ xiǎng zuò jiéyùn.) I mean, I want to take the MRT.
我是說，今天不要太晚。
Wǒ shì shuō, jīntiān bú yào tài wǎn.
I mean, let’s not be too late today.
我是說，我想坐捷運。
Wǒ shì shuō, wǒ xiǎng zuò jiéyùn.
I mean, I want to take the MRT.
嗯，___
Ńg, ___.
Well, ___.
Meaning: Well, ___.
When to use: Use 嗯，___。 (Ńg, ___.) at the start of an answer while you think. Examples: 嗯，我覺得可以。 (Ńg, wǒ juéde kěyǐ.) Well, I think that works. / 嗯，可能要看天氣。 (Ńg, kěnéng yào kàn tiānqì.) Well, maybe it depends on the weather.
嗯，我覺得可以。
Ńg, wǒ juéde kěyǐ.
Well, I think that works.
嗯，可能要看天氣。
Ńg, kěnéng yào kàn tiānqì.
Well, maybe it depends on the weather.
其實，___
Qíshí, ___.
Actually, ___.
Meaning: Actually, ___.
When to use: Use 其實，___。 (Qíshí, ___.) to add a small correction, contrast, or honest detail. Examples: 其實，我今天有點累。 (Qíshí, wǒ jīntiān yǒudiǎn lèi.) Actually, I’m a little tired today. / 其實，這間比較便宜。 (Qíshí, zhè jiān bǐjiào piányí.) Actually, this one is cheaper.
Tip: 其實 (Qíshí) is softer than saying “no.” It helps you correct something without sounding too direct.
其實，我今天有點累。
Qíshí, wǒ jīntiān yǒudiǎn lèi.
Actually, I’m a little tired today.
其實，這間比較便宜。
Qíshí, zhè jiān bǐjiào piányí.
Actually, this one is cheaper.
所以，___
Suǒyǐ, ___.
So, ___.
Meaning: So, ___.
When to use: Use 所以，___。 (Suǒyǐ, ___.) to continue, organize, or move to the next idea. Examples: 所以，我們明天見。 (Suǒyǐ, wǒmen míngtiān jiàn.) So, we’ll meet tomorrow. / 所以，你想喝咖啡嗎？ (Suǒyǐ, nǐ xiǎng hē kāfēi ma?) So, do you want coffee?
所以，我們明天見。
Suǒyǐ, wǒmen míngtiān jiàn.
So, we’ll meet tomorrow.
所以，你想喝咖啡嗎？
Suǒyǐ, nǐ xiǎng hē kāfēi ma?
So, do you want coffee?
重點是，___。
Zhòngdiǎn shì, ___.
The thing is, ___.
Meaning: The thing is, ___.
When to use: Use 重點是，___。 (Zhòngdiǎn shì, ___.) to introduce the main point or key reason. Examples: 重點是，我們沒有很多時間。 (Zhòngdiǎn shì, wǒmen méiyǒu hěn duō shíjiān.) The thing is, we don’t have much time. / 重點是，這裡離捷運很近。 (Zhòngdiǎn shì, zhèlǐ lí jiéyùn hěn jìn.) The thing is, this is very close to the MRT.
重點是，我們沒有很多時間。
Zhòngdiǎn shì, wǒmen méiyǒu hěn duō shíjiān.
The thing is, we don’t have much time.
重點是，這裡離捷運很近。
Zhòngdiǎn shì, zhèlǐ lí jiéyùn hěn jìn.
The thing is, this is very close to the MRT.
我不太確定，不過 ___。
Wǒ bú tài quèdìng, búguò ___.
I'm not sure, but ___.
Meaning: I’m not sure, but ___.
When to use: Use 我不太確定，不過 ___。 (Wǒ bú tài quèdìng, búguò ___.) when you are unsure but still want to help or share an idea. Examples: 我不太確定，不過應該是七點。 (Wǒ bú tài quèdìng, búguò yīnggāi shì qī diǎn.) I’m not sure, but it should be seven. / 我不太確定，不過我覺得可以。 (Wǒ bú tài quèdìng, búguò wǒ juéde kěyǐ.) I’m not sure, but I think it works.
我不太確定，不過應該是七點。
Wǒ bú tài quèdìng, búguò yīnggāi shì qī diǎn.
I’m not sure, but it should be seven.
我不太確定，不過我覺得可以。
Wǒ bú tài quèdìng, búguò wǒ juéde kěyǐ.
I’m not sure, but I think it works.
這問題問得很好。
Zhè wèntí wèn de hěn hǎo.
That's a good question.
Meaning: That’s a good question.
When to use: Use 這問題問得很好。 (Zhè wèntí wèn de hěn hǎo.) to compliment a question and buy a little time. Examples: 這問題問得很好。我想一下。 (Zhè wèntí wèn de hěn hǎo. Wǒ xiǎng yíxià.) That’s a good question. Let me think. / 這問題問得很好，其實不太簡單。 (Zhè wèntí wèn de hěn hǎo, qíshí bú tài jiǎndān.) That’s a good question; actually, it’s not very simple.
這問題問得很好。我想一下。
Zhè wèntí wèn de hěn hǎo. Wǒ xiǎng yíxià.
That’s a good question. Let me think.
這問題問得很好，其實不太簡單。
Zhè wèntí wèn de hěn hǎo, qíshí bú tài jiǎndān.
That’s a good question; actually, it’s not very simple.
我剛剛在說什麼來著？
Wǒ gānggāng zài shuō shénme láizhe?
What was I saying?
Meaning: What was I saying?
When to use: Use 我剛剛在說什麼來著？ (Wǒ gānggāng zài shuō shénme láizhe?) casually when you forget your train of thought. Examples: 我剛剛在說什麼來著？喔，對，晚餐。 (Wǒ gānggāng zài shuō shénme láizhe? Ō, duì, wǎncān.) What was I saying? Oh right, dinner. / 等一下，我剛剛在說什麼來著？ (Děng yíxià, wǒ gānggāng zài shuō shénme láizhe?) Just a moment, what was I saying?
When to use: Use 我剛剛講到哪裡了？ (Wǒ gānggāng jiǎng dào nǎlǐ le?) after a pause or interruption to return to your previous point. Examples: 我剛剛講到哪裡了？喔，交通。 (Wǒ gānggāng jiǎng dào nǎlǐ le? Ō, jiāotōng.) Where was I? Oh, transportation. / 不好意思，我剛剛講到哪裡了？ (Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ gānggāng jiǎng dào nǎlǐ le?) Sorry, where was I?
我剛剛講到哪裡了？喔，交通。
Wǒ gānggāng jiǎng dào nǎlǐ le? Ō, jiāotōng.
Where was I? Oh, transportation.
不好意思，我剛剛講到哪裡了？
Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ gānggāng jiǎng dào nǎlǐ le?
Sorry, where was I?
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna and David are deciding where to go this weekend, but David keeps thinking out loud.
