What to Say When You Don't Understand Chinese: 15 Lifesavers

When you don’t understand someone in Chinese, say 我听不懂 (wǒ tīng bu dǒng, “I don’t understand what I’m hearing”), then 请说慢一点 (qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn, “please speak a little slower”). These two phrases keep a conversation alive instead of ending it with a shrug — and native speakers are almost always happy to slow down.

”I don’t understand”

Mandarin distinguishes between not understanding what you hear and what you read.

• 我听不懂。 — wǒ tīng bu dǒng — “I don’t understand” (listening).
• 我看不懂。 — wǒ kàn bu dǒng — “I can’t read/understand this” (reading, like a menu or a sign).
• 我不明白。 — wǒ bù míngbai — “I don’t get it” — the idea or explanation.
• 我没听清楚。 — wǒ méi tīng qīngchu — “I didn’t catch that clearly.”

Tone tip: in tīng bu dǒng, the middle bu is short and toneless. Rushing through it sounds natural; stressing it sounds robotic.

Asking them to repeat or slow down

• 请再说一遍。 — qǐng zài shuō yí biàn — “Please say it again.”
• 请说慢一点。 — qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn — “Please speak a bit slower.”
• 你能再说一次吗？ — nǐ néng zài shuō yí cì ma? — “Could you say that once more?”
• 不好意思，什么？ — bù hǎo yìsi, shénme? — “Sorry, what?”

Adding 不好意思 (bù hǎo yìsi, “sorry / excuse me”) at the start makes any request sound softer.

Asking what something means

• 这是什么意思？ — zhè shì shénme yìsi? — “What does this mean?”
• ……是什么意思？ — … shì shénme yìsi? — “What does … mean?”
• 怎么写？ — zěnme xiě? — “How do you write it?”
• 能写下来吗？ — néng xiě xiàlái ma? — “Could you write it down?” Very useful for names and addresses.
• 用中文怎么说？ — yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō? — “How do you say it in Chinese?”

Explaining your level

• 我的中文不太好。 — wǒ de Zhōngwén bú tài hǎo — “My Chinese isn’t very good.”
• 我在学中文。 — wǒ zài xué Zhōngwén — “I’m learning Chinese.” This often earns patience and a smile.
• 你会说英语吗？ — nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma? — “Do you speak English?”

When you finally get it

• 我明白了！ — wǒ míngbai le! — “I get it now!”
• 懂了！ — dǒng le! — “Got it!”
• 谢谢你的耐心。 — xièxie nǐ de nàixīn — “Thanks for your patience.”

A sample exchange

Shopkeeper: 这个要现在付还是到时候付？ (Zhège yào xiànzài fù háishi dào shíhou fù?) You: 不好意思，我听不懂。请说慢一点。 (Bù hǎo yìsi, wǒ tīng bu dǒng. Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn.) Shopkeeper: 现在……付钱？还是……以后？ (Xiànzài… fù qián? Háishi… yǐhòu?) You: 哦，明白了！现在付。 (Ò, míngbai le! Xiànzài fù.)

Why these phrases matter

Most learners stop speaking the moment they miss a word. These phrases turn that moment into practice: every “please say it again” is another chance to hear real Mandarin at a speed you can handle.

FAQ

How do you say “I don’t understand” in Chinese? 我听不懂 — wǒ tīng bu dǒng — when listening; 我看不懂 — wǒ kàn bu dǒng — when reading.

How do you ask someone to speak slowly in Mandarin? 请说慢一点 — qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn.

How do you say “please repeat” in Chinese? 请再说一遍 — qǐng zài shuō yí biàn.

What is the difference between 不懂 and 不明白? 不懂 (bù dǒng) is general “don’t understand”; 不明白 (bù míngbai) is closer to “I don’t get the idea or explanation.”

How do you ask what a word means in Chinese? Say the word followed by 是什么意思 — shì shénme yìsi?

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Want to feel less lost in Mandarin conversations? Meilin explains in your language and gives you each phrase with characters, pinyin and a tone tip, so you can practise before you need it.