You can produce grammatically correct Chinese sentences, yet real conversations still feel restrictive. When the conversation moves in an unexpected direction, you may struggle to respond, relying on memorized sentences instead of expressing your own ideas.
The issue isn’t accuracy. It’s flexibility.
Why Memorized Sentences Stop Working
Memorized sentences are fixed. Real conversations are not. Native speakers often use short, adaptable expressions instead of complete, polished sentences.
Example:
A：Nǐ jīntiān zěnmeyàng?
你今天怎么样？
How are you today?
B：Wǒ jīntiān gǎnjué shífēn yúkuài.
我今天感觉十分愉快。
I feel very happy today.
This sounds correct, but unnatural in daily speech.
Common natural alternatives:
Hái kěyǐ ba.
还可以吧。
Not bad.
Yǒudiǎn lèi.
有点累。
A bit tired.
Jiù nà yàng.
就那样。
So-so.
These expressions are flexible and work in many situations.
When “Good Sentences” Sound Too Formal
Learners often aim for complete, structured answers. Spoken Chinese, however, often avoids overly complete sentences.
Example:
A：Nǐ zěnme kàn zhè jiàn shì?
你怎么看这件事？
What do you think about this?
B：Wǒ rènwéi zhè shì yī gè xūyào shēnrù kǎolǜ de wèntí.
我认为这是一个需要深入考虑的问题。
I think this is an issue that needs deep consideration.
More natural responses:
Wǒ juéde hái xíng.
我觉得还行。
I think it’s okay.
Bù tài hǎo shuō.
不太好说。
Hard to say.
Zhège yào kàn qíngkuàng.
这个要看情况。
It depends on the situation.
Native Speakers Build Meaning Step by Step
Instead of packing ideas into one sentence, native speakers often add information gradually.
Example:
A：Nǐ wèishénme xǐhuan zhège gōngzuò?
你为什么喜欢这个工作？
Why do you like this job?
B：Hái kěyǐ ba. Lǐngdǎo tǐng hǎo de. Tóngshì yě hěn hǎo xiāngchǔ.
还可以吧。领导挺好的。同事也很好相处。
It’s okay. The boss is nice. The colleagues are easy to get along with.
Useful add-on phrases:
Érqiě…
而且…
And also…
Zài jiùshì…
再就是…
Another thing is…
Bǐrú shuō…
比如说…
For example…
Moving Beyond Fixed Patterns
Textbook sentence patterns are useful, but real speech is more flexible.
Example:
Nǐ wèishénme xǐhuan zhèlǐ?
你为什么喜欢这里？
Why do you like it here?
Jiù juéde hěn fāngbiàn. Chūmén jiù shì dìtiě.
就觉得很方便。出门就是地铁。
It just feels convenient. The subway is right outside.
Common spoken expressions:
Jiù juéde…
就觉得…
It just feels…
Zhǔyào shì…
主要是…
Mainly because…
Yīnwèi… ba.
因为…吧。
I guess because…
Expressing Incomplete Ideas Is Normal
Native speakers often leave ideas open and adjust as they speak.
Helpful expressions for thinking aloud:
Zěnme shuō ne…
怎么说呢…
How should I put it…
Yǒudiǎn…
有点…
A bit…
Jiù shì…
就是…
It’s like…
These phrases help keep the conversation moving while you think.
Learning to Express Your Own Ideas in Chinese
Speaking naturally doesn’t mean speaking perfectly. It means being responsive and flexible.
At eChineseLearning, we help learners move beyond memorized sentences through real conversations and personalized feedback. By focusing on how ideas are actually expressed in spoken Chinese, learners gain confidence and control.
You can start with a free trial lesson and learn how to express your own ideas in Chinese as it’s really spoken!
Quiz: Choose the most natural response in spoken Chinese.
Someone asks you:
Nǐ zhōumò dǎsuàn zuò shénme?
你周末打算做什么？
What are you planning to do this weekend?
Which response sounds most natural in everyday conversation?
A.
Wǒ zhōumò jiāng yào jìnxíng yī xiàng hěn yǒu yìyì de huódòng.
我周末将要进行一项很有意义的活动。
B.
Méi shénme tèbié de, kěnéng chūqù zǒuzǒu.
没什么特别的，可能出去走走。
C.
Wǒ de zhōumò huì shì fēicháng máng de.
我的周末会是非常忙的。
