Lesson A1-007 - Asking to Repeat

EN → ZH / Level: A1 ○ In progress

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you'll learn how to ask someone to repeat themselves in Chinese. You'll also practice using the word 'essential' and describing things that are necessary. This is a key skill for any beginner learner.

Dialogue

A

这个词是essential。

zhè-gè-cí shì essential The word is 'essential'.
B

你能再说一遍吗？

nǐ néng zài shuō yī-biàn ma Could you say that again?
A

Essential。

essential Essential.
B

我怎么用这个词？

wǒ zěn-me yòng zhè-gè-cí How do I use it?
A

水对生命是不可或缺的。

shuǐ duì shēng-mìng shì bù-kě-huò-quē de Water is essential for life.
B

我明白了，essential的意思是必要的。

wǒ míng-bái le, essential de yì-si shì bì-yào de I see, essential means necessary.

Word by Word

这 Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this'. Used to point to something nearby.
个 A measure word (classifier) used with nouns. It is the most common general-purpose classifier in Chinese.
词 Noun meaning 'word'. Used to refer to a word or vocabulary item.
是 The verb 'to be'. Used for identification or classification, like saying something 'is' something.
你 Second-person pronoun meaning 'you' (informal). Used to address one person directly.
能 Modal verb meaning 'can' or 'to be able to'. Used to ask for permission or inquire about ability.
再 Adverb meaning 'again' or 'once more'. Placed before a verb to indicate repetition.
说 Verb meaning 'to say' or 'to speak'. A core communication verb.
一遍 Means 'one time' for actions. 遍 (biàn) is a measure word for the number of times an action is completed.
吗 A question particle placed at the end of a sentence to turn it into a yes/no question.
我 First-person pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me'.
怎么 Question word meaning 'how'. Used to ask about the method or way to do something.
用 Verb meaning 'to use'. Often used in questions about how to apply vocabulary or tools.
水 Noun meaning 'water'. One of the most fundamental nouns in any language.
对 Preposition meaning 'for' or 'regarding'. Used to indicate the target or recipient of an action or condition.
生命 Noun meaning 'life'. Refers to existence or the living organism.
不可或缺 Four-character idiom (chéngyǔ) meaning 'essential' or 'indispensable'. Literally means 'cannot be missing'.
的 A structural particle used to link an adjective or phrase to the noun it modifies, similar to '-ive' or '-ful' in English.
明白 Verb meaning 'to understand' or 'to be clear about'. The phrase 我明白了 means 'I understand now' or 'I see'.
了 A particle indicating a change of state or completed action. When added after a verb, it signals something has just happened.
意思 Noun meaning 'meaning'. Used when explaining what a word or phrase means, e.g., 'X的意思是...' (X means...).
必要 Adjective meaning 'necessary'. A simpler, more common synonym for 不可或缺.

Grammar Points

能 + verb + 吗？(Can you...?)

你能再说一遍吗？

nǐ néng zài shuō yī-biàn ma

Could you say that again?

能...吗 is used to make polite requests

对...是不可或缺的 (essential for...)

水对生命是不可或缺的。

shuǐ duì shēng-mìng shì bù-kě-huò-quē de

Water is essential for life.

对 + noun marks what something is important for

Chinese Vocabulary

不可或缺 adj
bù-kě-huò-quē indispensable / essential

水对生命是不可或缺的 (Water is essential for life)

词 noun
cí word

这个词是essential (The word is 'essential')

明白 verb
míng-bái to understand / to realize

我明白了 (I understand / I see)

生命 noun
shēng-mìng life

水对生命是不可或缺的 (Water is essential for life)

水 noun
shuǐ water

水对生命是不可或缺的 (Water is essential for life)

说 verb
shuō to say / to speak

你能再说一遍吗?

一遍 num
yībiàn once / one time

再说一遍 (say again)

意思 noun
yì-si meaning

essential的意思是必要的 (essential means necessary)

用 verb
yòng to use

我怎么用这个词? (How do I use this word?)

再 adv
zài again / once more

再说一遍 (say again)

怎么 adv
zěnme how

我怎么用这个词? (How do I use this word?)

这个 pron
zhège this

这个词 (this word)

Alternative Expressions

再说一遍 (say again)

  • 重复一遍 chóng-fù yī-biàn | zài lái yī-cì | màn-màn shuō (repeat once) - more formal
  • 再来一次 (do it again) - more casual
  • 慢慢说 (say it slowly) - when speed is the issue

不可或缺 (essential/indispensable)

  • 必要 bì-yào | zhòng-yào | bì-xū (necessary) - simpler, more common
  • 重要 (important) - slightly weaker meaning
  • 必须 (must/required) - stronger obligation

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Could you say that again?

Show Answer你能再说一遍吗？

Water is essential for life.

Show Answer水对生命是不可或缺的。

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

again / one more time

Show Answer再

understand / I see

Show Answer明白