Choosing a restaurant for a group dinner | Learn Chinese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 我们需要为周六的聚餐选一家餐厅。

   We need to choose a restaurant for our group on Saturday.

   我们

   we; us

   需要

   need

   为

   for

   周六

   Saturday

   聚餐

   group meal

   选

   choose

   一家

   a (restaurant)

   餐厅

   restaurant

   More detail

   我们 means “we/us,” referring here to the speaker together with at least one other person. In Mandarin, 我 is “I/me,” while 我们 is the plural first-person form; it does not by itself specify exactly how many people are included. Example: 我们一起吃饭。 — “We eat together.” 需要 means “need.” It is a useful verb for expressing necessity and can be followed by a noun or by an action: 我需要水。 — “I need water.”; 我们需要休息。 — “We need to rest.” 为 introduces the purpose or beneficiary of an action. Here, 为周六的聚餐 means “for Saturday’s group meal.” It is not the main verb “choose”; it links the upcoming activity to the purpose or occasion. Example: 为旅行准备食物。 — “Prepare food for the trip.” 周六 means “Saturday.” 周 names a day of the week in this expression, and 六 identifies the sixth day in the sequence used for weekdays. Mandarin commonly places a time expression before the action: 我们周六见。 — “We’ll meet on Saturday.” 聚餐 means “a group meal” or “dining together.” It is a compact word for a meal shared by a group, rather than simply any meal. Example: 他们周末聚餐。 — “They have a group meal on the weekend.” 选 means “choose” or “select.” It is the action needed after 需要: 需要选 means “need to choose.” The related verb 选择 also means “choose,” but 选 is the shorter everyday form. Example: 请选一个座位。 — “Please choose a seat.” 一家 is a measure-word phrase: 一 plus the classifier 家. With establishments such as restaurants, 家 counts one establishment, so 一家餐厅 means “one restaurant” or, in this context, “a restaurant.” The 一 here does not by itself assert a numerical contrast; the phrase identifies one establishment to be selected. Example: 我们想找一家咖啡店。 — “We want to find a café.” 餐厅 means “restaurant.” The classifier phrase 一家 comes before it, giving the reusable pattern 一家 + establishment. Example: 这家餐厅很安静。 — “This restaurant is quiet.” Together, 我们需要 states that the group has a need, 为周六的聚餐 identifies the occasion this need concerns, and 选一家餐厅 gives the required action and its object. The full utterance therefore means: “We need to choose a restaurant for our group on Saturday.”

2. 那么，在预订之前，我们应该了解每个人的饮食偏好。

   Then we should check everyone's food preferences before making a reservation.

   那么

   then; in that case

   在预订之前

   before making a reservation

   我们应该

   we should

   了解

   understand; find out about

   每个人

   everyone; each person

   饮食偏好

   food preferences

   More detail

   那么 introduces the conclusion or next step: “then” or “in that case.” It links this sentence to the earlier need to choose a restaurant. In other contexts, 那么 can also introduce a consequence or a new step in reasoning. 在预订之前 means “before making a reservation.” The pattern 在 + action/event + 之前 places one event before another. Here, 预订 is the action “to reserve/book,” and 之前 means “before.” Example: 出发之前检查护照。 — “Check your passport before departing.” 我们应该 means “we should.” 我们 is the first-person plural pronoun “we,” while 应该 is the modal expressing what is advisable or expected. The modal comes before the action: 我们应该先确认。 — “We should confirm first.” This construction expresses a recommendation, not a statement that the action has already happened. 了解 means “find out about” or “understand.” In this sentence it means obtaining information about the preferences, rather than merely seeing or noticing them. Its useful contrast with 知道 is that 了解 often highlights becoming familiar with or understanding information, while 知道 more directly means “know” a fact. Example: 我想了解菜单。 — “I want to learn about the menu.” 每个人 means “each person” or “everyone.” 每 indicates distribution across the members of a group, and 个 is the classifier used here with 人. The phrase focuses on the members one by one; it does not itself state how many people there are. Example: 每个人都有自己的选择。 — “Everyone has their own choice.” 饮食偏好 means “food preferences.” 饮食 relates to eating and diet, while 偏好 is a preference or favored choice. Together they form a noun phrase for the kinds of food or eating options a person prefers. Example: 请告诉我们你的饮食偏好。 — “Please tell us your food preferences.” Putting the parts together, 那么 marks this as the next conclusion, 在预订之前 sets the time relationship, 我们应该 expresses the recommendation, and 了解每个人的饮食偏好 means finding out the food preferences of every person. The whole utterance means: “Then, before making a reservation, we should find out everyone’s food preferences.”

3. 有些人想吃寿司，但其他人更喜欢热食。

   Some people want sushi, but others prefer a hot meal.

   有些人

   some people

   想

   want

   吃

   eat

   寿司

   sushi

   但

   but

   其他人

   other people

   更喜欢

   prefer more

   热食

   hot food

   More detail

   有些人 means “some people.” 有些 is a quantity expression for an unspecified part of a group, and 人 means “person/people.” Chinese nouns such as 人 generally do not add a plural ending here; the quantity expression supplies the group reading. Example: 有些人喜欢茶。 — “Some people like tea.” 想 means “want” in this sentence. It is a modal-like verb placed before another verb to express a person’s desire or intention: 想 + verb. It does not change for the person or number of the subject. Example: 我想休息。 — “I want to rest.” 吃 means “eat.” In 想吃, it is the action desired: 想吃 means “want to eat.” Chinese normally places this verb after 想 rather than changing the form of 吃 for tense or subject. Example: 她想吃面。 — “She wants to eat noodles.” 寿司 means “sushi.” It is a noun and follows 吃 as the thing being eaten, so 吃寿司 means “eat sushi.” 但 means “but.” It links the first group’s preference with a contrasting statement about another group. It is a concise contrast marker; 但是 is a longer commonly used variant with the same basic function. 其他人 means “other people.” 其他 means “other” or “the others,” and 人 means “people.” Here it introduces a group contrasted with 有些人; the expression itself does not add a separate plural ending. Example: 其他人选择了茶。 — “The other people chose tea.” 更喜欢 means “prefer” or “like better.” 喜欢 means “like,” while 更 marks a greater degree of liking relative to an alternative or comparison: 更喜欢 + noun means “prefer [that noun].” The comparative marker is 更, not 喜欢; 喜欢 remains unchanged. Example: 我更喜欢米饭。 — “I prefer rice.” 热食 means “hot food” and, in this sentence’s translation, “a hot meal.” 热 describes temperature and 食 refers to food; together they form a compact noun phrase. The adjective comes before the noun in this phrase. This expression identifies the kind of food preferred, without itself specifying a particular dish. The sentence first presents 有些人想吃寿司: “some people want to eat sushi.” 但 then introduces the contrast, and 其他人更喜欢热食 says that other people prefer hot food. Together, the utterance contrasts the food preferences of two groups: some want sushi, whereas others prefer a hot meal.

4. 一家菜单丰富的餐厅会更灵活。

   A place with a varied menu would be more flexible.

   菜单

   menu

   丰富

   varied; rich

   餐厅

   restaurant

   会

   would; will

   更灵活

   more flexible

   More detail

   菜单 means “menu” here: the list of food and drinks offered by a restaurant. It is a noun and can be reused in compounds such as 菜单选择 (“menu choices”) or in 菜单很长 (“the menu is long”). 丰富 describes the menu as varied or abundant in available choices. It is a descriptive adjective; in 菜单丰富, it follows the noun and forms a noun–adjective description. Example: 这家餐厅的菜单很丰富。 — “This restaurant’s menu is very varied.” 餐厅 means “restaurant.” In the larger expression 一家餐厅, 家 is the classifier commonly used for establishments such as restaurants. The pattern 菜单丰富的餐厅 uses 的 to place the description before the noun: “a restaurant whose menu is varied.” 会 presents the result as expected or conditional rather than simply stating an established fact. With an implied condition such as having a varied menu, it can correspond to “would” in this sentence. It can also refer to an expected future event in other contexts, so its exact English rendering depends on the surrounding statement. 更灵活 means “more flexible.” 更 marks a comparative degree, and 灵活 is the adjective being compared; 更 is not part of the adjective’s base form. The sentence does not state the comparison standard explicitly, but it presents this kind of restaurant as having greater flexibility than some relevant alternative or baseline. Example: 这个安排更灵活。 — “This arrangement is more flexible.” Together, 一家菜单丰富的餐厅 is the subject: “a restaurant with a varied menu.” The subject is followed by 会, which marks the expected result, and 更灵活, which says that the restaurant or place would be more flexible. Thus the whole utterance means: “A place with a varied menu would be more flexible.”

5. 我找到了一家休闲餐厅，那里有素食选择和大桌子。

   I found a casual restaurant with vegetarian options and big tables.

   找到

   find; locate

   一家

   a classifier phrase for a business or place

   休闲

   casual; leisurely

   餐厅

   restaurant

   那里

   there

   有

   have; there is

   素食

   vegetarian

   选择

   choice; option

   大

   big; large

   桌子

   table

   More detail

   找到 means “found” here. It is the resultative form 找 (“look for”) + 到 (“reach/obtain the intended result”): 找到 presents the search as successful. 我找到了一家餐厅 means “I found a restaurant,” with 了 marking the completed event in this context. Example: 我找到了钥匙。 — “I found the key.” 一家 introduces one restaurant as an unspecified establishment. 家 is a classifier commonly used with businesses and establishments, including restaurants. 一 here is an indefinite “a/an” marker in the translation; it does not by itself assert a numerical count as a teaching point. Example: 一家咖啡馆 — “a café.” 休闲 describes a relaxed or casual style. In 休闲餐厅, it modifies 餐厅, so the phrase means “casual restaurant.” Example: 这是休闲服装。 — “These are casual clothes.” 餐厅 means “restaurant.” It is the noun that 一家 classifies and that 休闲 describes. Example: 这家餐厅很安静。 — “This restaurant is quiet.” 那里 means “there,” referring to a place already introduced or understood; the supplied translation supports the restaurant as the place where the options and tables are available. 那 points to something relatively distant or previously identified, and 里 marks the interior or location. Example: 那里有一家书店。 — “There is a bookstore there.” 有 means “have” or “there is/are.” In this sentence it introduces things available at that place: 那里有... means “there are ... there” or, naturally, “the restaurant has ...”. The same form can express possession in another structure, such as 我有时间 — “I have time.” 素食 means “vegetarian” in the context of food. Here it modifies 选择, producing 素食选择, “vegetarian options.” It can also function as a noun-like food label in other contexts, but the fixed sentence uses it as a modifier. 选择 means “choice” or “option” here. In 素食选择, it is the noun being described by 素食; the phrase refers to available vegetarian options, not to the act of choosing. Example: 这里有很多选择。 — “There are many options here.” 大 means “big” or “large.” It modifies 桌子, so 大桌子 means “big tables” in the translation. 大 does not change form for number in this phrase. Its opposite is 小 (“small”): 大桌子 — “big table(s)”; 小桌子 — “small table(s).” 桌子 means “table.” The ending 子 is part of this common noun form; it should not be treated here as a separate word meaning “small” or as an inflection. Chinese nouns generally do not take a plural ending in this phrase, so the translation’s plural “tables” comes from the context rather than a visible plural suffix. Putting the chunks together: 我找到了一家休闲餐厅 says “I found a casual restaurant.” 那里有素食选择和大桌子 says “There are vegetarian options and big tables there,” naturally rendered in the fixed translation as “with vegetarian options and big tables.” 和 links the two available features. The complete utterance is: “I found a casual restaurant with vegetarian options and big tables.”

6. 听起来，对于成员偏好不同的团体来说，这是更稳妥的选择。

   That sounds like a safer choice for a mixed group.

   听起来

   sounds

   对于 … 来说

   for ...

   成员

   members

   偏好

   preferences

   不同

   different

   团体

   group

   这是

   this is

   更稳妥

   safer

   选择

   choice

   More detail

   听起来 means “sound/seem” here: it presents the speaker’s impression of something, rather than asserting it as a direct fact. The pattern 听起来，…… can introduce an evaluation based on what has been heard. Example: 听起来不错。 — “That sounds good.” 对于……来说 is a frame meaning “for …” or “as far as … is concerned.” 对于 introduces the group being considered, while 来说 completes the viewpoint frame. Example: 对于初学者来说，这本书很有用。 — “For beginners, this book is useful.” 成员 means “member.” It is a noun for a person belonging to a group, organization, or team. Example: 每位成员都有自己的任务。 — “Each member has their own task.” 偏好 means “preference” in this sentence. It is a noun here: the things people tend to like or choose. It can also be used as a verb in other sentences, but here 成员偏好不同 describes differing preferences among the members. Example: 他们的饮食偏好不同。 — “Their dietary preferences are different.” 不同 means “different” or “differing.” In 成员偏好不同, it describes the preferences as not the same; it does not mean that the groups themselves are different. Example: 两个人的看法不同。 — “The two people’s views are different.” 团体 means “group” or “collective.” In 成员偏好不同的团体, the phrase before 的 modifies 团体: it is a group whose members have differing preferences. The pattern [description]的 + noun is a common way to place a description before a noun. Example: 有孩子的家庭 — “families with children.” 这是 combines 这 (“this”) with 是 (“is”). 这 is a demonstrative pointing to the choice under discussion, and 是 links it to the following noun phrase. Example: 这是一个好办法。 — “This is a good method.” 更稳妥 means “safer” or “more prudent.” 稳妥 is the base descriptive word, meaning reliable or prudent in the circumstances; 更 marks a comparison with another relevant option or situation. The comparison is relative, so it does not by itself claim that the choice is completely risk-free. Example: 这个办法更稳妥。 — “This method is safer.” 选择 means “choice” here and functions as a noun after 是: 这是……选择 identifies what “this” is. The same form can also be a verb meaning “to choose,” but its role in this sentence is the noun “choice.” Example: 这是一个实际的选择。 — “This is a practical choice.” Putting the parts together, 成员偏好不同的团体 means “a group whose members have different preferences.” 对于……来说 sets that group as the viewpoint, 这是更稳妥的选择 says that this is the safer choice for it, and 听起来 frames the whole evaluation as an impression. The complete meaning is: “That sounds like a safer choice for a mixed group.”

7. 预订之前，我应该问问大家，还是现在就选这家餐厅？

   Should I ask the group before booking, or choose it now?

   预订

   book; reserve

   之前

   before

   我应该

   I should

   问问

   ask

   大家

   everyone; the group

   还是

   or

   现在

   now

   就

   right away; then

   选

   choose

   这

   this

   家

   classifier for establishments

   餐厅

   restaurant

   More detail

   预订 means “to book” or “to reserve” here. Its base form is already 预订; it is a verb and does not change for person or number. Example: 我想预订一张桌子。 — “I want to reserve a table.” 之前 means “before.” It can follow an event or action to make a time expression: 出发之前 means “before setting off.” Here, 预订之前 means “before booking,” so it establishes the time of the first option. 我应该 combines 我 (“I”) with 应该 (“should; ought to”). 应该 is a modal placed before the main verb and expresses what the speaker considers advisable, not a completed action. Example: 我应该先确认。 — “I should confirm first.” 问问 is the reduplicated form of the verb 问, “to ask.” Reduplication here presents the action as brief, tentative, or casual: “ask” or “ask around a little.” The repeated form is not a different verb and does not mean two separate questions. Example: 我先问问他。 — “I’ll ask him first.” 大家 means “everyone” or, in this context, “the group.” It refers to the people whose preferences the speaker may consult. The form itself does not mark a particular number beyond the collective meaning supplied by the word and context. Example: 大家都同意了。 — “Everyone agreed.” 还是 introduces the alternative in this question: “or.” In a question offering two choices, the pattern A，还是 B？ means “A, or B?” This is different from using 或者 in an ordinary statement, where 或者 commonly means “or” without forming this type of choice question. Here the two alternatives are asking the group before booking and choosing the restaurant now. 现在 means “now,” locating an action at the present time. 就 follows it in 现在就 and adds immediacy: “right now” or “now, without waiting.” 就 has several uses in Chinese, so its exact effect comes from this combination and the surrounding alternative. Example: 我们现在就出发。 — “We’ll leave right now.” 选 means “to choose” or “to select.” It is the main verb of the second alternative and remains in its basic form after the modal meaning supplied earlier by the question. Example: 你可以选一个。 — “You can choose one.” 这 is a demonstrative meaning “this.” In 这家餐厅, it points to the restaurant being selected; the fixed translation renders that object as “it.” Its demonstrative form does not itself identify why the restaurant is being chosen; it marks the restaurant as the relevant “this” one. 家 is the classifier used here for an establishment such as a restaurant. The pattern is 这家 + establishment, so 这家餐厅 means “this restaurant.” Classifiers are used between a demonstrative or number and a noun in such noun phrases; 家 is not the noun meaning “restaurant.” 餐厅 means “restaurant.” In the sentence it is the noun classified by 家. Example: 那家餐厅很安静。 — “That restaurant is very quiet.” Together, 预订之前 sets the time as “before booking.” 我应该问问大家 asks whether the speaker should consult the group, with 问问 giving the consultation a light, tentative tone. 还是 introduces the competing choice, 现在就选这家餐厅, “choose this restaurant right now.” The complete utterance therefore means: “Should I ask the group before booking, or choose it now?”

8. 给他们两个选项，请他们尽快回复。

   Give them two options and ask for a quick response.

   给他们

   give them

   两个

   two

   选项

   options

   请他们

   ask them

   尽快

   as soon as possible

   回复

   reply

   More detail

   给他们 combines 给, “to give,” with 他们, “them.” 给 can introduce the recipient before the thing being given: 给 + recipient + thing. In this sentence, the recipient is the group referred to as “them”; the wording does not specify the individuals further. Example: 给她一本书。— Give her a book. 两个 means “two.” 两 is the form used before a countable noun when stating the number two; 个 is a common measure word. The number phrase modifies the following noun, so 两个选项 means “two options.” Example: 我有两个问题。— I have two questions. 选项 means “option” or “choice,” especially one among alternatives. Its plural meaning here comes from the numeral 两个; the noun itself does not need a separate plural ending. Example: 请选一个选项。— Please choose one option. 请他们 combines 请, “to ask/request,” with 他们, “them.” Here 请 introduces a request directed at the same group, rather than the meaning “invite.” A useful pattern is 请 + person + action: 请他等一下。— Ask him to wait a moment. 尽快 means “as soon as possible” or “as quickly as possible.” It describes the desired timing of the following action, not the content of the response. Example: 请尽快告诉我。— Please tell me as soon as possible. 回复 means “to reply” or “to respond.” It can function as a verb, as in 请他们回复, “ask them to reply,” and it can also function as a noun in some contexts, as in 等待回复, “wait for a reply.” Here it is the requested action. Example: 请回复这条消息。— Please reply to this message. Together, 给他们两个选项 means “give them two options.” The second part, 请他们尽快回复, means “ask them to reply as soon as possible.” The imperative-style sequence links the two requests: give the group two options, then ask that group for a prompt response. The complete utterance is therefore: “Give them two options and ask for a quick response.”

9. 我会发一个简短的投票，这样我们今晚就能决定了。

   I will send a short poll so we can decide tonight.

   我会

   I will

   发

   send

   简短

   short

   投票

   poll

   这样

   this way; so

   我们

   we; us

   今晚

   tonight

   就能

   can then

   决定

   decide

   了

   indicates a resulting change or completed situation

   More detail

   我会 combines 我 “I” with 会, which here expresses the speaker’s future intention or expectation: “I will.” 会 can also express a likely event in other contexts, so its exact force comes from the sentence. Pattern: subject + 会 + verb. 发 means “send” here. Its base form is also 发; Chinese verbs do not change for person or number, so 我发, 他们发, and 明天发 use the same verb form. In this context, the object is a poll, so 发一个投票 means “send a poll.” Example: 我发消息给你。 — “I’ll send you a message.” 简短 describes something as short or brief. It is a two-syllable descriptive word and does not change for number or gender. Here it modifies 投票: 一个简短的投票, “a short poll.” Example: 请写一段简短的说明。 — “Please write a brief explanation.” 投票 means “poll” in this sentence: a poll that people can respond to in order to choose. The same word can also refer to voting as an activity, depending on context. Example: 我们先投票。 — “Let’s vote first.” 这样 means “this way” and introduces the consequence of the preceding action: “so” or “that way.” Here it links sending the poll with the later ability to decide. Pattern: 这样，... can introduce a result or practical consequence. 我们 means “we” or “us.” Chinese does not mark this pronoun for gender or grammatical case; its role is shown by its position. Here it is the subject of 能决定, so the intended meaning is “we can decide.” 我们 can include or exclude the listener depending on context; this sentence itself does not require a further distinction. 今晚 means “tonight.” It is a time expression made of 今 “this/current” and 晚 “evening,” but it functions as one ordinary time phrase here. It specifies when the deciding can happen. Example: 我们今晚见。 — “We’ll meet tonight.” 就能 combines 就 with 能. 能 expresses ability or possibility, while 就 presents that ability as becoming available under the stated condition or as the resulting next step. Together here, 我们今晚就能决定 means “we can then decide tonight.” 能 itself does not change for person or time. Example: 有了地址，我们就能找到地方。 — “Once we have the address, we can find the place.” 决定 means “decide” or “make a decision.” It is a verb here, and its form does not change for person or time in Chinese. Example: 明天再决定。 — “We’ll decide tomorrow.” 了 at the end marks a newly established or resulting situation. With 就能决定, it presents being able to decide as the result that will be reached, rather than simply adding a past-tense meaning. Chinese 了 is not uniformly a past marker; its interpretation depends on its position and the surrounding meaning. The sentence builds as 我会发一个简短的投票 — “I will send a short poll” — followed by 这样 — “so/that way.” The result is 我们今晚就能决定了: “we will then be able to decide tonight,” with final 了 marking that this capability becomes established as the outcome. The complete meaning is: “I will send a short poll so we can decide tonight.”

10. 这样应该能让计划继续推进，不用征求太多人的意见。

    That should keep the plan moving without asking too many people for opinions.

    这样

    this way; thus

    应该

    should; ought to

    能

    can; be able to

    让

    let; make

    计划

    plan

    继续

    continue

    推进

    advance; move forward

    不用

    not need to

    征求

    seek; solicit

    太多

    too many; too much

    意见

    opinion; view

    More detail

    这样 means “this way” or “in this manner.” Here it points to the proposed way of proceeding, understood with the preceding plan to send a poll. It is a demonstrative for a manner or situation, not a claim that a particular noun is its grammatical referent. 应该 is the modal “should” here: it presents the result as expected or reasonably likely. Its base form is already 应该; it does not inflect for person or number. Compare 应该 for an expected or advisable result with 必须 for a stronger requirement. Example: 这样应该可以。—“This way should work.” 能 means “can” or “be able to,” and in this sentence it marks the possibility that the method will produce the result. 这样应该能… combines an expected outcome with the ability or possibility of achieving it. Example: 他能解决这个问题。—“He can solve this problem.” 让 is a causative verb meaning “let” or “make.” The pattern 让 + participant + verb means that someone or something enables or causes that participant to carry out the following action. Here the plan is the thing being caused to move forward; no human agent is added to the sentence. Example: 这项改变让工作更容易。—“This change makes the work easier.” 计划 is a noun meaning “plan.” In 让计划继续推进, it is the entity whose progress is being maintained. The same word can also function as a verb meaning “to plan,” depending on its position and context. Example: 我们需要一个计划。—“We need a plan.” 继续 means “continue” or “keep on.” It comes before 推进 and shows that the action is ongoing rather than beginning anew. A reusable pattern is 继续 + verb, as in 继续学习, “continue studying.” 推进 means “advance,” “move forward,” or “promote progress.” Here it describes the plan moving forward, so 计划 is the object or topic whose progress is advanced. Its base form is 推进; it is not an inflected form of 继续. Example: 我们正在推进这个项目。—“We are moving this project forward.” 不用 means “do not need to” or “there is no need to.” It combines 不, which negates, with 用, “need” or “use” in this construction. Here it introduces an action that is unnecessary, not an action that is forbidden. Example: 你不用现在回答。—“You do not need to answer now.” 征求 means “seek” or “solicit,” especially by actively asking for someone’s views, permission, or suggestions. The useful pattern is 征求 + someone’s + 意见. It is more specific than simply hearing or receiving an opinion. Example: 我们先征求大家的意见。—“Let’s first ask everyone for their opinions.” 太多 means “too many” or “too much,” expressing an excessive amount. In 太多人的意见, 太多 modifies the number of people within the larger phrase 太多人的意见, “the opinions of too many people.” The form itself does not mark number or gender; the surrounding noun and context determine whether the quantity is countable or uncountable. Example: 这里有太多问题。—“There are too many problems here.” 意见 means “opinion,” “view,” or “opinion offered about a matter.” In 征求意见, it forms a common collocation meaning “solicit opinions.” It is a noun and is distinct from 想法, which more generally means an idea or thought. Example: 请告诉我你的意见。—“Please tell me your opinion.” Putting the parts together, 这样应该能让计划继续推进 means “this way should enable the plan to keep moving forward.” 不用征求太多人的意见 adds that this can happen without having to solicit the opinions of too many people. The complete utterance therefore means: “That should keep the plan moving without asking too many people for their opinions.”