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About This Lesson
In this lesson, you'll learn how to ask someone to repeat themselves in Chinese, and how to ask about the meaning of an English phrase. These are essential skills for language learners in real conversations.
Dialogue
A
这个短语是"on the way"。
zhè ge duǎn yǔ shì on the way The phrase is 'on the way'.
B
你能再说一遍吗？
nǐ néng zài shuō yī biàn ma Could you repeat that?
A
On the way。
on the way On the way.
B
这是什么意思？
zhè shì shén me yì si What does it mean?
A
意思是快来了。
yì si shì kuài lái le It means coming soon.
B
我现在明白了。
wǒ xiàn zài míng bai le I understand now.Word by Word
这个
This demonstrative pronoun means 'this' or 'this one'. It combines 这 (zhè, this) + 个 (gè, a general measure word).
短语
Noun meaning 'phrase' or 'expression'. 短 means 'short' and 语 means 'language/speech', together referring to a short linguistic unit.
是
The verb 'to be' (is/am/are). Used to link a subject to its description or identity, as in 'The phrase is...'.
你
Second-person singular pronoun meaning 'you'. One of the most basic Chinese pronouns.
能
Modal auxiliary verb meaning 'can' or 'be able to'. Used here to make a polite request: 你能... = 'Could you...'.
再
Adverb meaning 'again' or 'once more'. Placed before a verb to indicate repetition of an action.
说
Verb meaning 'to say', 'to speak', or 'to tell'. One of the most common verbs in Chinese.
一遍
Measure word phrase meaning 'once' or 'one time'. 一 means 'one' and 遍 is a measure word counting complete occurrences of an action.
吗
A sentence-final question particle that turns a statement into a yes/no question. No English equivalent — it's added at the end of a sentence to ask a question.
这
Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this'. Often combined with a measure word (这个) but can stand alone before nouns.
什么
Question word meaning 'what'. Used in questions to ask about identity, content, or meaning.
意思
Noun meaning 'meaning' or 'intention'. 什么意思 means 'what does it mean?'; 意思是 means 'the meaning is...'.
它
Third-person pronoun for objects and animals, meaning 'it'. Used when referring to inanimate things.
快
Adjective/adverb meaning 'fast', 'quick', or 'soon'. When used before a verb, it indicates imminent action (快来了 = coming soon).
来了
Verb phrase meaning 'has come' or 'is coming'. 来 means 'to come' and 了 is a particle indicating a change of state or completed/imminent action.
我
First-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me'. The most basic pronoun in Chinese.
现在
Time noun meaning 'now' or 'at present'. Often placed at the beginning of a sentence or before a verb.
明白
Verb/adjective meaning 'to understand' or 'clear'. 明白了 (with 了) means 'I get it now' or 'I understand'.
了
A versatile particle that indicates a change of state, completion, or new situation. Here in 明白了 and 来了, it signals a new state: understanding or arrival.
Grammar Points
你能...吗？
你能再说一遍吗？
nǐ néng zài shuō yī biàn maCould you repeat that?
Polite request pattern: 能 + verb + 吗
意思是...
意思是快来了。
yì si shì kuài lái leIt means coming soon.
Explaining meanings with 意思是
Chinese Vocabulary
短语
noun
duǎn yǔ
phrase / expression
- Pinyin
- duǎnyǔ
这个短语是"on the way"。
快
adj
kuài
fast / soon
- Pinyin
- kuài
意思是快来了。
明白
verb
míng bai
to understand
- Pinyin
- míngbai
我现在明白了。
说
verb
shuō
to say / to speak
- Pinyin
- shuō
你能再说一遍吗?
一遍
noun
yī biàn
once / one time
- Pinyin
- yībiàn
你能再说一遍吗?
意思
noun
yì si
meaning
- Pinyin
- yìsi
这是什么意思?
再
adv
zài
again
- Pinyin
- zài
你能再说一遍吗?
Alternative Expressions
你能再说一遍吗？ (Could you repeat that?)
- 请再说一遍。 qǐng zài shuō yī biàn (Please say it again.) - More formal
- 再说一遍好吗？ zài shuō yī biàn hǎo ma (Say it again?) - Casual
- 麻烦你再说一遍。 má fan nǐ zài shuō yī biàn (Could you please repeat?) - Very polite
我现在明白了。 (I understand now.)
- 我懂了。 wǒ dǒng le (I get it.) - Casual
- 明白了。 míng bai le (Got it.) - Short response
- 我理解了。 wǒ lǐ jiě le (I understand.) - More formal
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Could you repeat that?
Show Answer
你能再说一遍吗？It means coming soon.
Show Answer
意思是快来了。Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
meaning
Show Answer
意思to understand