New here? This is lesson 189 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
Thinking out loud in Traditional Chinese
Zhi-Ming asks Maya for a real project update, not a yes or no. She wants to answer well, but the first sentence will not come out clean.
Learn the small stalls Taiwan speakers use while they think: buy a second, praise the question, then name what you actually mean.
You will hear Maya's first long answer in the studio. The fortune slip stays in the till; this meeting is only about the work.
By the end of this lesson
Buy thinking time, praise a question, and steer to what you actually mean.
- 我想一下Let me think.
- 該怎麼說呢？How should I put it?
- 嗯，其實___Well, actually ___.
- 這問題問得很好Good question.
- 我是說___I mean ___.
- 重點是___The point is ___.
Scene — a long answer
The design studio is two MRT stops from Banyan Lane. Zhi-Ming has the draft on his laptop and wants the schedule in plain words.
Maya sits across from him. She knows the work, but this is her first long answer in the room, so she will think out loud before she lands.
Learn — thinking out loud
These six lines buy you time in a meeting. Listen, then say each one out loud.
Notice how 一下 softens a verb, and how 得 marks how well the question was asked.
我想一下
Let me think.
When to use it: Use this to buy a second before you answer.
一下 after a verb makes the action short and light.
Say it: The 一 before a fourth-tone syllable rises to second tone.
該怎麼說呢？
How should I put it?
When to use it: Use this when the wording is not ready yet.
呢 keeps this a soft thinking question, not a demand.
Say it: The last syllable is a light neutral tone.
嗯，其實___
Well, actually ___.
When to use it: Use this to stall, then give the real point.
其實 turns from the stall toward what is actually true.
這問題問得很好
Good question.
When to use it: Use this when a question deserves a careful answer.
得 after the verb tells how the asking was done.
Say it: 得 after the verb is a light neutral tone.
我是說___
I mean ___.
When to use it: Use this to restate or correct what you just said.
Follow 我是說 with the clearer wording you meant.
重點是___
The point is ___.
When to use it: Use this to name the one thing that matters.
Put the main idea after 重點是, then stop adding extras.
Say it: 重 here is fourth tone, not the rising reading.
Story — Maya's first long answer
Listen to Maya's first long answer in front of Zhi-Ming. He wants a clear update, and she thinks out loud before she commits.
The fortune slip is not part of this meeting.
Zhi-Ming瑪雅，你來得剛好。Maya, you came at just the right time.
Maya志明，怎麼了？Zhi-Ming, what's up?- Zhi-Ming你覺得這個怎麼樣？What do you think of this?
- Maya這問題問得很好。That's a really good question.
- Maya我想一下。Let me think.
- Zhi-Ming好，你慢慢說。Okay, take your time.
- Maya該怎麼說呢？How should I put it?
- Maya嗯，其實進度還可以。Well, actually the progress is okay.
- Zhi-Ming還可以是什麼意思？What do you mean, okay?
- Maya我是說設計稿已經好了。I mean the design draft is already done.
- Zhi-Ming那還缺什麼？So what's still missing?
- Maya重點是客戶還沒回。The point is the client hasn't replied yet.
- Zhi-Ming我明白了。I understand.
- Maya好喔，謝謝。Okay, thanks.
- Zhi-Ming有問題再叫我。Call me if there's a problem.
Practice — use the fillers
Try ten short exercises with these thinking-out-loud lines. Pick the stall that fits each moment.
After each answer, read why the other options fail, then say the line again.
0 of 10 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
我想一下
What do you say?
What do you say?
You already know the update, but you cannot find a polite way to say it.
Build the line
Build the line
Good question.
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Well, actually ___.
嗯，_______
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Pick the reply
Zhi-Ming says:
Pick the reply
現在可以講嗎？
Can you talk through it now?
And you reply with:
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I mean ___.
我____說___
What do you say?
What do you say?
The draft is on the table and you want Zhi-Ming's view first.
Pick the reply
Zhi-Ming says:
Pick the reply
禮拜五交就可以。
Friday delivery is fine.
And you reply with:
Say it — your thinking time
You play Maya in the studio. Zhi-Ming asks about the work; you stall, then steer to the point.
Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay his line before your turn.
- Maya sits down with Zhi-Ming for a project check.
- Zhi-Ming你覺得這個怎麼樣？What do you think of this?
- Maya (you)Praise the question before you answer.
Praise the question before you answer.
這問題問得很好
Good question.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 我想一下 | Let me think. | |
| 該怎麼說呢？ | How should I put it? | |
| 嗯，其實___ | Well, actually ___. | |
| 這問題問得很好 | Good question. | |
| 我是說___ | I mean ___. | |
| 重點是___ | The point is ___. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Today's thinking-out-loud lines are in Yak Cards with more useful meeting language.
Review a few filler cards before your next call so the stalls come easily.
Open Yak Cards