Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 187 of 240

New here? This is lesson 187 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.

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Are you following in Traditional Chinese

Yi-Jun visits Banyan Lane, and Maya walks her through the shop, the clinic, and the MRT. Yi-Jun nods before Maya even finishes a sentence.

Learn six ways to check that someone is following and to offer to say it again. You will pause in the middle, ask about one part, and invite questions.

Maya is not testing Yi-Jun. She just wants the directions to land before they keep walking.

By the end of this lesson

Check that someone is following, ask about one part, and offer to say it again.

  • 這樣聽得懂嗎？Does that make sense?
  • 你還跟得上嗎？Are you still with me?
  • 有問題嗎？Any questions?
  • 到目前為止都還可以嗎？So far so good?
  • 要我再說一次嗎？Shall I say it again?
  • 這部分清楚嗎？Is this part clear?

Scene — walking the lane

Saturday light sits on Banyan Lane. Maya walks Yi-Jun from the MRT toward Banyan Breakfast, pointing at the clinic and the 7-Eleven as they go.

Yi-Jun nods along a little too fast. Maya slows down and checks that the map in words is actually landing. A-Li is already at the back table, soy milk still unfinished.

Saturday morning on Banyan Lane, Maya walks Yi-Jun toward the breakfast shop and points out the clinic and convenience store while A-Li waits at the back table with unfinished soy milk.

Learn — checking they follow

These six lines let you pause and check that a listener is still with you. Use them after a direction, a story, or a long point.

Listen for 聽得懂 and 跟得上: both mark a result, not just the action of listening.

  1. Maya has stopped on the lane and turned fully toward Yi-Jun with open hands, checking whether the directions landed, while Yi-Jun freezes mid-nod.

    這樣聽得懂嗎？

    Does that make sense?

    When to use it: Ask this after you explain something, to check the listener understood.

    聽得懂 marks a result: you understand after listening, not only that you heard.

  2. Maya has slowed on the lane and twisted back to see whether Yi-Jun is still keeping up, while Yi-Jun lags a half step behind with a transit card.

    你還跟得上嗎？

    Are you still with me?

    When to use it: Pause in a longer explanation to check they are still keeping up.

    跟得上 asks whether the listener can keep the pace of what you are saying.

    Say it: Here 還 means still and takes a second tone.

  3. Maya stands beside parked scooters with one palm open toward Yi-Jun, waiting for a question, while Yi-Jun pauses in thought.

    有問題嗎？

    Any questions?

    When to use it: Use this when you finish a point and want to invite questions.

    嗎 at the end makes this a yes-no question; keep 問題 where it is.

  4. At the breakfast-shop doorway Maya tilts toward Yi-Jun to check that everything so far is all right, while A-Li sits at the back table with unfinished soy milk.

    到目前為止都還可以嗎？

    So far so good?

    When to use it: Check in the middle of a long explanation whether everything so far is okay.

    到目前為止 means up to this moment, then you ask if it is still okay.

  5. Maya offers to go over the route again, pointing more slowly from the shop toward the clinic and convenience store, while Yi-Jun leans in to watch.

    要我再說一次嗎？

    Shall I say it again?

    When to use it: Offer this when someone looks lost or wants you to go over it.

    要我 before an action, then 嗎, asks if they want you to do it.

    Say it: 一 changes tone before the fourth-tone 次.

  6. Maya leans from the back table and indicates one stretch of the lane to check that this part of the route is clear, while Yi-Jun looks where Maya points and A-Li's soy milk sits unfinished.

    這部分清楚嗎？

    Is this part clear?

    When to use it: Ask this about one section of the talk, not the whole thing.

    這部分 points at one chunk, then you ask if that chunk is clear.

Story — Yi-Jun nods too soon

Listen as Maya walks Yi-Jun along Banyan Lane and checks that each part is landing.

Yi-Jun nods too soon. Maya slows down, offers to repeat, and they stop at the breakfast shop.

  1. Yi-Jun這條巷我沒來過。I haven't been on this lane before.
  2. Maya沒關係，我慢慢講。No problem, I'll go slowly.
  3. Maya從捷運站出來，直走就到榕樹巷。Come out of the MRT, go straight, and you reach Banyan Lane.
  4. Yi-Jun好喔，知道了。Okay, got it.
  5. Maya這樣聽得懂嗎？Does that make sense?
  6. Yi-Jun我聽得懂。I can understand it by listening.
  7. They reach the corner by Banyan Breakfast.
  8. Maya巷口是榕樹早餐店，對面是診所。The breakfast shop is at the corner, and the clinic is across from it.
  9. Yi-Jun對對對。Yeah, yeah, yeah.
  10. Maya你還跟得上嗎？Are you still with me?
  11. Yi-Jun跟得上，你繼續。I'm keeping up, go on.
  12. Maya便利商店在旁邊，公園再過去一點。The convenience store is beside it, and the park is a bit farther.
  13. Maya到目前為止都還可以嗎？So far so good?
  14. Yi-Jun前面可以，後面有點亂。The first part is fine; the later part is a bit messy.
  15. Maya有問題嗎？Any questions?
  16. Yi-Jun我聽不懂。I don't understand what I hear.
  17. Maya要我再說一次嗎？Shall I say it again?
  18. Yi-Jun請再說一次。Please say it again.
  19. Maya巷口是早餐店，對面是診所。The breakfast shop is at the corner, and the clinic is across from it.
  20. Maya這部分清楚嗎？Is this part clear?
  21. Yi-Jun這次清楚了。This time it's clear.

Practice — pause and check

Work through nine short tasks that check whether someone followed you. Pick the line that fits each pause.

After each answer, read why the other options miss, then say the line out loud once more.

0 of 9 done

  1. What does it mean?

    這樣聽得懂嗎？

  2. What do you say?

    You are still mapping the lane, and Yi-Jun is nodding before you finish. Check she can keep the pace.

  3. Build the line

    Shall I say it again?

    ？

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    So far so good?

    ____都還可以嗎？

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Swap the word

    You finish the lane directions and invite Yi-Jun to ask anything.

    有____嗎？

  7. What do you say?

    Yi-Jun recaps the walk and asks if you followed. You caught every step.

  8. What does it mean?

    我聽不懂

  9. What do you say?

    The corner went by too fast, and you need to hear that part again.

Say it — your check-ins

You play Maya. Walk Yi-Jun along the lane and check that she is still with you.

Listen to each cue, then say the checking line out loud. You can replay her line before your turn.

  1. You have just told Yi-Jun how to walk from the MRT to Banyan Lane.
  2. Maya (you)Check whether the walk from the station made sense.

    這樣聽得懂嗎？

    Does that make sense?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
這樣聽得懂嗎？Does that make sense?
你還跟得上嗎？Are you still with me?
有問題嗎？Any questions?
到目前為止都還可以嗎？So far so good?
要我再說一次嗎？Shall I say it again?
這部分清楚嗎？Is this part clear?
Next: lesson 188What's unclear

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