Traditional Chinese - Lesson 86 of 152: Topic Changes

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

對了，___

Duì le, ___.

By the way, ___.

Meaning: 對了，___。 (Duì le, ___.) means “By the way, ___.”

When to use: Use it when a related idea suddenly comes to mind and you want to bring it in casually.

Tip: Don’t use 對了 (Duì le) for a totally unrelated serious change in a formal meeting; 另外 (Lìngwài) may sound smoother.

對了，明天你有空嗎？

Duì le, míngtiān nǐ yǒu kòng ma?

By the way, are you free tomorrow?

對了，我剛剛收到你的訊息。

Duì le, wǒ gānggāng shōu dào nǐ de xùnxí.

By the way, I just got your message.

說到 ___，___。

Shuō dào ___, ___.

Speaking of ___, ___.

Meaning: 說到 ___，___。 (Shuō dào ___, ___.) means “Speaking of ___, ___.”

When to use: Use it to connect from something just mentioned to a related topic.

說到咖啡，附近有一家新的店。

Shuō dào kāfēi, fùjìn yǒu yì jiā xīn de diàn.

Speaking of coffee, there’s a new shop nearby.

說到旅行，你去過花蓮嗎？

Shuō dào lǚxíng, nǐ qù guò Huālián ma?

Speaking of travel, have you been to Hualien?

這讓我想到，___。

Zhè ràng wǒ xiǎng dào, ___.

That reminds me, ___.

Meaning: 這讓我想到，___。 (Zhè ràng wǒ xiǎng dào, ___.) means “That reminds me, ___.”

When to use: Use it when the current topic triggers another thought, reminder, or question.

這讓我想到，我還沒訂票。

Zhè ràng wǒ xiǎng dào, wǒ hái méi dìng piào.

That reminds me, I haven’t booked the tickets yet.

這讓我想到，下週要交報告。

Zhè ràng wǒ xiǎng dào, xià zhōu yào jiāo bàogào.

That reminds me, the report is due next week.

另外，___

Lìngwài, ___.

On another note, ___.

Meaning: 另外，___。 (Lìngwài, ___.) means “On another note, ___.”

When to use: Use it to shift to another point in a calm, organized way. It works in casual and more formal situations.

另外，我們週五可能會開會。

Lìngwài, wǒmen zhōuwǔ kěnéng huì kāi huì.

On another note, we might have a meeting on Friday.

另外，晚餐我可以晚一點到。

Lìngwài, wǎncān wǒ kěyǐ wǎn yìdiǎn dào.

On another note, I can arrive a little late for dinner.

趁我還沒忘，___。

Chèn wǒ hái méi wàng, ___.

Before I forget, ___.

Meaning: 趁我還沒忘，___。 (Chèn wǒ hái méi wàng, ___.) means “Before I forget, ___.”

When to use: Use it when you suddenly remember something and want to say it before it slips away.

趁我還沒忘，這是你的發票。

Chèn wǒ hái méi wàng, zhè shì nǐ de fāpiào.

Before I forget, here’s your receipt.

趁我還沒忘，明天記得帶護照。

Chèn wǒ hái méi wàng, míngtiān jìdé dài hùzhào.

Before I forget, remember to bring your passport tomorrow.

我們可以聊一下 ___ 嗎？

Wǒmen kěyǐ liáo yíxià ___ ma?

Can we talk about ___ for a minute?

Meaning: 我們可以聊一下 ___ 嗎？ (Wǒmen kěyǐ liáo yíxià ___ ma?) means “Can we talk about ___ for a minute?”

When to use: Use it when you want to gently ask permission to move the conversation to a topic.

Tip: Keep 一下 (yíxià) in 我們可以聊一下 ___ 嗎？ (Wǒmen kěyǐ liáo yíxià ___ ma?) to make the request sound softer.

我們可以聊一下預算嗎？

Wǒmen kěyǐ liáo yíxià yùsuàn ma?

Can we talk about the budget for a minute?

我們可以聊一下下週的行程嗎？

Wǒmen kěyǐ liáo yíxià xià zhōu de xíngchéng ma?

Can we talk about next week’s schedule for a minute?

我想問你一下 ___ 的事。

Wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ yíxià ___ de shì.

I wanted to ask you about ___.

Meaning: 我想問你一下 ___ 的事。 (Wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ yíxià ___ de shì.) means “I wanted to ask you about ___.”

When to use: Use it to introduce a question about a new topic in a natural, not-too-direct way.

我想問你一下房租的事。

Wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ yíxià fángzū de shì.

I wanted to ask you about the rent.

我想問你一下今天會議的事。

Wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ yíxià jīntiān huìyì de shì.

I wanted to ask you about today’s meeting.

我們換個話題吧。

Wǒmen huàn ge huàtí ba.

Let's change the subject.

Meaning: 我們換個話題吧。 (Wǒmen huàn ge huàtí ba.) means “Let’s change the subject.”

When to use: Use it when you clearly want to stop the current topic and move somewhere else.

我們換個話題吧。這個有點尷尬。

Wǒmen huàn ge huàtí ba. Zhège yǒudiǎn gāngà.

Let’s change the subject. This is a little awkward.

我們換個話題吧。聊聊週末好了。

Wǒmen huàn ge huàtí ba. Liáo liáo zhōumò hǎo le.

Let’s change the subject. Let’s talk about the weekend instead.

總之，回到 ___。

Zǒngzhī, huí dào ___.

Anyway, back to ___.

Meaning: 總之，回到 ___。 (Zǒngzhī, huí dào ___.) means “Anyway, back to ___.”

When to use: Use it after a side topic when you want to pull the conversation back to the main point.

Tip: 總之 (Zǒngzhī) can sound like you are wrapping things up, so use it when you really want to guide the conversation back.

總之，回到剛剛的問題。

Zǒngzhī, huí dào gānggāng de wèntí.

Anyway, back to the question from just now.

總之，回到今天的重點。

Zǒngzhī, huí dào jīntiān de zhòngdiǎn.

Anyway, back to today’s main point.

回到 ___，___。

Huí dào ___, ___.

Going back to ___, ___.

Meaning: 回到 ___，___。 (Huí dào ___, ___.) means “Going back to ___, ___.”

When to use: Use it to reconnect to something mentioned earlier and then continue with a comment or question.

回到訂位，你想訂幾點？

Huí dào dìng wèi, nǐ xiǎng dìng jǐ diǎn?

Going back to the reservation, what time do you want to book?

回到報告，我覺得還要改一下。

Huí dào bàogào, wǒ juéde hái yào gǎi yíxià.

Going back to the report, I think we still need to revise it a bit.

這有點離題，不過___。

Zhè yǒudiǎn lítí, búguò ___。

This is a bit off topic, but ___

Meaning: 這有點離題，不過___。 (Zhè yǒudiǎn lítí, búguò ___.) means “This is a bit off topic, but ___.”

When to use: Use it to politely signal that your next comment temporarily moves away from the current topic.

這有點離題，不過那家麵店真的很好吃。

Zhè yǒudiǎn lítí, búguò nà jiā miàn diàn zhēn de hěn hǎo chī.

This is a bit off topic, but that noodle shop is really good.

這有點離題，不過你知道捷運要漲價嗎？

Zhè yǒudiǎn lítí, búguò nǐ zhīdào jiéyùn yào zhǎngjià ma?

This is a bit off topic, but did you know the MRT fare is going up?

我可以提一下別的事嗎？

Wǒ kěyǐ tí yíxià bié de shì ma?

Can I bring up something else?

Meaning: 我可以提一下別的事嗎？ (Wǒ kěyǐ tí yíxià bié de shì ma?) means “Can I bring up something else?”

When to use: Use it before changing to a different topic, especially when you want to be polite.

我可以提一下別的事嗎？我有一個小問題。

Wǒ kěyǐ tí yíxià bié de shì ma? Wǒ yǒu yí ge xiǎo wèntí.

Can I bring up something else? I have a small question.

我可以提一下別的事嗎？跟週末有關。

Wǒ kěyǐ tí yíxià bié de shì ma? Gēn zhōumò yǒu guān.

Can I bring up something else? It’s related to the weekend.

還有一件事我想提一下。

Hái yǒu yí jiàn shì wǒ xiǎng tí yíxià.

There's something else I wanted to mention.

Meaning: 還有一件事我想提一下。 (Hái yǒu yí jiàn shì wǒ xiǎng tí yíxià.) means “There’s something else I wanted to mention.”

When to use: Use it to add one more topic, reminder, or point before the conversation moves on.

還有一件事我想提一下。明天可能會下雨。

Hái yǒu yí jiàn shì wǒ xiǎng tí yíxià. Míngtiān kěnéng huì xià yǔ.

There’s something else I wanted to mention. It might rain tomorrow.

還有一件事我想提一下。Sarah 也想一起去。

Hái yǒu yí jiàn shì wǒ xiǎng tí yíxià. Sarah yě xiǎng yìqǐ qù.

There’s something else I wanted to mention. Sarah also wants to go together.

Traditional Chinese - Topic Changes

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase means “By the way, ___”?

You want to politely ask, “Can I bring up something else?” Which do you say?

Which phrase is best for returning to the main topic after a side topic?

Which phrase means “Speaking of _, _”?

Before I forget, remember to bring your passport tomorrow.

Speaking of coffee, there’s a new shop nearby.

We’ve gone pretty far off track. Anyway, back to today’s main point.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Which phrase means “By the way, ___”?

You want to politely ask, “Can I bring up something else?” Which do you say?

Which phrase is best for returning to the main topic after a side topic?

Which phrase means “Speaking of ___, ___”?

Before I forget, remember to bring your passport tomorrow.

Speaking of coffee, there’s a new shop nearby.

We’ve gone pretty far off track. Anyway, back to today’s main point.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

Which phrase means “Speaking of _, _”?