Traditional Chinese - Smooth Transitions

Lesson 89 of 152

A lively café scene in Taiwan with speech bubbles showing Traditional Chinese transition phrases for Smooth Transitions in Taiwan Mandarin.

Goal: Keep the conversation moving without sounding abrupt.

Free traditional Chinese lessons with Taiwan Mandarin audio and speaking practice.

Sometimes the hardest part of speaking isn’t the vocabulary—it’s the little bridge between ideas. Today’s phrases are your conversational glue, so your Mandarin can flow instead of hopping like a startled yak.

Level B1: in this lesson, you’ll practice four useful transition phrases: 事實上，…… (Shìshí shàng, ……) for “In fact,” 其實，…… (Qíshí, ……) for “Actually,” 換個話題，…… (Huàn ge huàtí, ……) for changing subjects, and 回到___，…… (Huídào ___, ……) for returning to a point. These are common in Taiwan Mandarin when you want to clarify, add detail, or steer a conversation politely.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Use 事實上，…… (Shìshí shàng, ……) to strengthen or make a point more exact.
  • Use 其實，…… (Qíshí, ……) to gently correct or clarify what was just said.
  • Signal a topic change with 換個話題，…… (Huàn ge huàtí, ……).
  • Bring a conversation back to an earlier point with 回到___，…… (Huídào ___, ……).
A learner studies Traditional Chinese phrases on a phone while chatting in a Taiwan Mandarin language lesson about changing and returning to topics.

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.

事實上，

Shìshí shàng, ……

In fact, ...

Meaning: 事實上，…… (Shìshí shàng, ……) means “In fact, …” Use it to add information that strengthens, corrects, or makes your point more exact.

When to use: Use it when the next sentence gives a clearer or stronger truth than what was just said.

Tip: Don’t use it just to jump to a totally new topic. For that, use 換個話題，…… (Huàn ge huàtí, ……).

事實上，我已經買好票了。

Shìshí shàng, wǒ yǐjīng mǎi hǎo piào le.

In fact, I already bought the tickets.
事實上，這家店星期一也有開。

Shìshí shàng, zhè jiā diàn xīngqíyī yě yǒu kāi.

In fact, this shop is open on Monday too.

其實，

Qíshí, ……

Actually, ...

Meaning: 其實，…… (Qíshí, ……) means “Actually, …” It often feels softer than a direct correction.

When to use: Use it to gently clarify, correct, or shift what you just said or what someone else assumed.

Tip: 其實，…… (Qíshí, ……) is not always “really.” In conversation, it often works like a gentle “actually.”

其實，我今天不太餓。

Qíshí, wǒ jīntiān bù tài è.

Actually, I’m not very hungry today.
其實，我不是住台北，我住新北。

Qíshí, wǒ bú shì zhù Táiběi, wǒ zhù Xīnběi.

Actually, I don’t live in Taipei; I live in New Taipei.

換個話題，

Huàn ge huàtí, ……

To change the subject, ...

Meaning: 換個話題，…… (Huàn ge huàtí, ……) means “To change the subject, …”

When to use: Use it when you want to clearly tell the listener that you’re moving to a different topic.

Tip: This can sound a little direct, but it’s still natural. Use a friendly tone.

換個話題，你週末有什麼計畫？

Huàn ge huàtí, nǐ zhōumò yǒu shénme jìhuà?

To change the subject, what plans do you have this weekend?
換個話題，你最近在看什麼劇？

Huàn ge huàtí, nǐ zuìjìn zài kàn shénme jù?

To change the subject, what shows have you been watching lately?

回到___，

Huídào ___, ……

Going back to ___, ...

Meaning: 回到___，…… (Huídào ___, ……) means “Going back to ___, …” Fill in the topic you want to return to.

When to use: Use it to bring the conversation back to an earlier topic, question, plan, or point.

回到剛剛的問題，我覺得可以。

Huídào gānggāng de wèntí, wǒ juéde kěyǐ.

Going back to the question from just now, I think it’s okay.
回到週末的計畫，我們要幾點出發？

Huídào zhōumò de jìhuà, wǒmen yào jǐ diǎn chūfā?

Going back to the weekend plan, what time should we leave?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David are deciding whether to try a restaurant for lunch, but the conversation briefly moves to weekend plans.

Anna and David talk at a Taiwan café, using Traditional Chinese social glue phrases in Taiwan Mandarin to clarify, shift topics, and return to the plan.

What are Anna and David mainly deciding to do?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

我聽說這家店有點貴。

Wǒ tīngshuō zhè jiā diàn yǒudiǎn guì.

I heard this place is a little expensive.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

其實，午餐套餐不太貴。

Qíshí, wǔcān tàocān bù tài guì.

Actually, the lunch set isn’t too expensive.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

事實上，我昨天看評論，很多人說很好吃。

Shìshí shàng, wǒ zuótiān kàn pínglùn, hěn duō rén shuō hěn hǎo chī.

In fact, I looked at the reviews yesterday, and many people said it’s really good.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

換個話題，你週末有空嗎？

Huàn ge huàtí, nǐ zhōumò yǒu kòng ma?

To change the subject, are you free this weekend?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

有啊。回到餐廳，我們今天中午要不要去？

Yǒu a. Huídào cāntīng, wǒmen jīntiān zhōngwǔ yào bú yào qù?

I am. Going back to the restaurant, do we want to go today at noon?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

好啊，我可以先訂位。

Hǎo a, wǒ kěyǐ xiān dìng wèi.

Sure, I can make a reservation first.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase best means “Actually, …” for a gentle correction?

Which phrase clearly signals that you are moving to a different topic?

You talked about the schedule earlier. Now you want to return to it. Which phrase fits best?

Which phrase is best for adding stronger or more exact information, like “In fact, I already bought it”?

Actually, I’m not arriving Friday; I’m arriving Saturday.

_____，我不是星期五到，是星期六到。

Going back to the budget you mentioned just now, I think we can discuss it more.

_____，你剛剛說的預算，我覺得可以再討論。

We’ve been talking about work. To change the subject, do you want to go to Tainan together next week?

我們剛剛一直聊工作。_____，你下週要不要一起去台南？

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

事實上，

Shìshí shàng, ……

In fact, …

Say this phrase out loud:

其實，

Qíshí, ……

Actually, …

Say this phrase out loud:

換個話題，

Huàn ge huàtí, ……

To change the subject, …

Say this phrase out loud:

回到___，

Huídào ___, ……

Going back to ___, …