Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 190 of 240

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Change the subject in Traditional Chinese

After lunch near the co-working space, Maya and Yi-Jun's chat jumps from food to the lease, then to A-Li at Banyan Breakfast.

Learn six ways to bring up another topic: a sudden thought, a link to what was just said, a reminder, a polite switch, and a side comment.

Use them when a talk feels stuck, too heavy, or you suddenly remember something. A-Li's soy milk stays unfinished, and the fortune slip stays unread.

By the end of this lesson

Bring up another topic, link it to what was just said, or politely switch.

  • 對了，___By the way, ___.
  • 說到___Speaking of ___.
  • 這讓我想到___That reminds me of ___.
  • 我們換個話題吧Let's change the subject.
  • 趁我還沒忘，___Before I forget, ___.
  • 這有點離題，不過___This is a bit off topic, but ___.

Scene — lunch, then the lease

Maya and Yi-Jun sit with lunch boxes at a small table near the co-working space in Da'an. The rice is almost gone, and Yi-Jun is still talking about the food.

Maya needs to mention the lease with Mr. Wang, then the talk slides toward A-Li at Banyan Breakfast. Nothing about the fortune is solved today.

Maya and Yi-Jun sit at a small table by a Da'an coworking window with nearly empty lunch boxes while Yi-Jun gestures at the last grains of rice.

Learn — ways to change the topic

These six lines help you leave one topic and open another without sounding rude.

Listen for 對了 and 說到, then practise the longer openers that add a reason.

  1. Maya lifts one finger and leans toward Yi-Jun as if changing the topic, while he still hunches over the last rice.

    對了，___

    By the way, ___.

    When to use it: Use this to bring up something you just remembered.

    對了 opens a new thought after a pause, then you add the topic.

    Say it: The 了 here is a light neutral tone.

  2. Yi-Jun looks up from the rice and points his chopsticks toward Maya, who listens with her lunch-box lid half closed.

    說到___

    Speaking of ___.

    When to use it: Use this when the last topic already names what you will add.

    After 說到 you repeat a word just said, then ask or comment.

  3. Maya looks toward the window with fingers near her chin while Yi-Jun scrapes the last rice from his tray.

    這讓我想到___

    That reminds me of ___.

    When to use it: Use this when the last point sparks a related thought.

    讓 here means the last point makes you think of something else.

  4. Yi-Jun holds up an open palm in a gentle move-on gesture while Maya sets her lunch box aside.

    我們換個話題吧

    Let's change the subject.

    When to use it: Use this when the talk feels stuck or too heavy.

    吧 makes the switch a suggestion, not a sharp order.

    Say it: The 吧 at the end is a light neutral tone.

  5. Maya pulls a blank folded paper from a canvas tote while Yi-Jun drinks from a cup.

    趁我還沒忘，___

    Before I forget, ___.

    When to use it: Use this to say something now while you still remember it.

    沒 here marks that the forgetting has not happened yet.

  6. Yi-Jun spreads both hands wide as if showing how A-Li takes two seats while Maya packs her tote.

    這有點離題，不過___

    This is a bit off topic, but ___.

    When to use it: Use this when your next point is not the main talk.

    不過 lets you add the side point after you admit it is extra.

Story — from lunch to A-Li

Maya and Yi-Jun finish lunch, then the talk moves to the lease and later to A-Li.

Listen for how each speaker brings up a new topic without dropping the last one cold.

  1. Yi-Jun你吃飯了嗎？Have you eaten?
  2. Maya吃了，這便當不錯。I have; this lunch box is pretty good.
  3. Yi-Jun對啊，我還想再吃一點。Yeah, I still want a bit more.
  4. Maya對了，租約下個月到期。By the way, the lease is up next month.
  5. Yi-Jun說到租約，你要續嗎？Speaking of the lease, do you want to renew?
  6. Maya想啊。I'd like to.
  7. Yi-Jun租約到期後可以續租嗎？Can you renew when the lease ends?
  8. Maya應該可以，我再問王先生。It should be fine; I'll ask Mr. Wang.
  9. Yi-Jun租金會不會漲？Will the rent go up?
  10. Maya我還不知道。這讓我想到管理費。I don't know yet. That reminds me of the management fee.
  11. Yi-Jun講這些我頭有點痛。Talking about all this is making my head hurt.
  12. Maya我們換個話題吧。Let's change the subject.
  13. Yi-Jun好喔，你想聊什麼？Okay, what do you want to talk about?
  14. Maya趁我還沒忘，阿犛今天早上有來。Before I forget, A-Li came this morning.
  15. Yi-Jun他又沒喝完豆漿嗎？He didn't finish his soy milk again?
  16. Maya對啊。這有點離題，不過他還是坐兩個位子。Yeah. This is a bit off topic, but he still takes two seats.

Practice — pick the next topic

Work through short exercises that pick the right opener for each shift in the talk.

Check why a near miss does not fit, then say the line again.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    對了，___

  2. What do you say?

    You sit down with Yi-Jun and check whether she has already eaten.

  3. Fill the gap

    That reminds me of ___.

    這讓我_______

  4. What did you hear?

  5. Build the line

    Let's change the subject.

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Swap the word

    You are about to add a side comment and need the word for going off topic.

    這有點____，不過___

  7. Pick the reply

    Yi-Jun says:

    我想繼續住，可是不太確定規定。

    I want to keep living there, but I'm not sure about the rules.

    And you reply with:

  8. Match the pairs

    Traditional Chinese

    對了，___Drop the English here
    說到___Drop the English here
    這讓我想到___Drop the English here
    我們換個話題吧Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Traditional Chinese, or tap one and then the other.

  9. What do you say?

    You need the opener that means 'Before I forget' to mention A-Li came this morning.

  10. Pick the reply

    Yi-Jun says:

    講這些我頭有點痛。

    Talking about all this is making my head hurt.

    And you reply with:

Say it — steer the talk

You play Maya at the lunch table. Yi-Jun keeps the chat moving, and you steer it to the lease, then to A-Li.

Tap the microphone and answer the English cue. You can replay her line first.

  1. Maya and Yi-Jun are finishing lunch near the co-working space.
  2. Yi-Jun這便當還不錯。This lunch box is pretty good.
  3. Maya (you)Bring up the lease as something you just thought of.

    對了，___

    By the way, ___.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
對了，___By the way, ___.
說到___Speaking of ___.
這讓我想到___That reminds me of ___.
我們換個話題吧Let's change the subject.
趁我還沒忘，___Before I forget, ___.
這有點離題，不過___This is a bit off topic, but ___.
Next: lesson 191Linking what you say

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's topic-change lines are in Yak Cards with more ways to steer a talk.

Review a few cards before your next long chat so a new topic comes out smoothly.

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