Stop Saying “This” Wrong in Chinese!
Zhège
这个
This/um…
Pointing at Things
Zhège duōshao qián?
这个多少钱？
How much is this?
Filler Word / Buying Time
Wǒ juéde…zhège…hái kěyǐ ba.
我觉得…这个…还可以吧。
I think…um…it’s okay.
Referring to a Type/Situation
Zhège wèntí hěn fùzá.
这个问题很复杂。
This kind of problem is very complicated.
How to Use “That“ Like a Native Speaker in Chinese？
Nà ge
那个
That/well…
Pointing at Something
Wǒ xǐ huan nà ge shǒu biǎo.
我喜欢那个手表。
I like that watch.
Filler Word / Buying Time
Nà ge… míng tiān wǒ men jǐ diǎn jiàn miàn?
那个… 明天我们几点见面？
Well… what time are we meeting tomorrow?
Referring to a Type/Situation
Nà ge… wǒ xū yào shí jiān.
那个… 我需要时间。
About that…… I need time.
The Polite Euphemism
Qǐng wèn, nà ge… xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎr?
请问，那个… 洗手间在哪儿？
Excuse me, um… where is the restroom?
Don‘t Just Say “And Then“ in Chinese. Say This.
Rán hòu
然后
Then / And then / So…
Connecting Actions
Wǒ chī wán fàn, ránhòu qù shàng bān.
我吃完饭，然后去上班。
I eat, then go to work.
Storytelling / Daily Talk
Wǒmen xiān chīfàn, ránhòu kàn diànyǐng.
我们先吃饭，然后看电影。
We’ll eat first, then watch a movie.
Keeping the Conversation Going
Ránhòu… nǐ ne?
然后……你呢？
And then… what about you?
Connecting Ideas (Not Time!)
Wǒ jué de yǒu diǎn lèi, ránhòu xiǎng xiū xi yī xià.
我觉得有点累，然后想休息一下。
I feel a bit tired, so I want to rest.
How Chinese Couples Talk: “Have You Eaten?“
Huílái la! Chī fàn le ma?
回来啦！吃饭了吗？
You’re back! Have you eaten?
Hái méi ne…
还没呢…
Not yet…
È le ba? Wǒ gěi nǐ rè fàn.
饿了吧？我给你热饭。
You must be hungry. I’ll heat up food for you.
Xièxie qīn’ài de!
谢谢亲爱的！
Thanks, my dear!
Jīntiān zěnmeyàng?
今天怎么样？
How was your day?
Yǒudiǎn lèi.
有点累。
Just a bit tired.
Nà kuài chī, chīwán xiūxi.
那快吃，吃完休息。
Then eat quickly and rest after.
Hǎo ~
好～
Okay~
How to Talk at Work in Chinese？Sound Polite & Professional？
Nà fèn bàogào zěnme yàng le?
那份报告怎么样了？
Hey,how’s that report going?
Mǎshàng hǎo! Wǎn diǎn fā nǐ.
马上好！晚点发你。
Almost done! I’ll send it to you later.
Hǎo. Yī huìr kāi gè xiǎo huì tǎo lùn yī xià?
好。一会儿开个小会讨论一下？
Okay. Wanna have a quick meeting later to discuss?
Kě yǐ de. Jǐ diǎn?
可以的。几点？
It’s okay. What time?
Sì diǎn bàn ba？
四点半吧？
4:30?
OK, yī huìr jiàn!
OK，一会儿见！
OK, see you later!
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