Handling Sensitive Workplace Feedback | Learn Chinese in English

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Use Handling Sensitive Workplace Feedback to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我注意到你在评审时好像有些沮丧。

Wǒ zhùyì dào nǐ zài píngshěn shí hǎoxiàng yǒuxiē jǔsàng. I noticed you seemed frustrated during the review.

我确实有点沮丧，不过我尽量没让这种情绪占据主导。

Wǒ quèshí yǒudiǎn jǔsàng, búguò wǒ jǐnliàng méi ràng zhè zhǒng qíngxù zhànjù zhǔdǎo. I was, although I tried not to let it dominate.

那些意见很直接，但针对的是工作本身。

Nàxiē yìjiàn hěn zhíjiē, dàn zhēnduì de shì gōngzuò běnshēn. The comments were direct, but they were aimed at the work.

我现在明白这一点了，但当时的时机让我措手不及。

Wǒ xiànzài míngbai zhè yí diǎn le, dàn dāngshí de shíjī ràng wǒ cuòshǒu bùjí. I understand that now, but the timing caught me off guard.

如果我们预计要给出比较敏感的反馈，可以提前通知你。

Rúguǒ wǒmen yùjì yào gěichū bǐjiào mǐngǎn de fǎnkuì, kěyǐ tíqián tōngzhī nǐ. We can give you more notice when we expect sensitive feedback.

那样能帮助我当下更周全地回应。

Nàyàng néng bāngzhù wǒ dāngxià gèng zhōuquán de huíyìng. That would help me respond more thoughtfully in the moment.

你的分析很有价值，即使有些地方需要修改也是如此。

Nǐ de fēnxī hěn yǒu jiàzhí, jíshǐ yǒuxiē dìfang xūyào xiūgǎi yě shì rúcǐ. Your analysis was valuable, even where revisions were needed.

我很感谢你区分了这两点，因为这会改变我理解批评的方式。

Wǒ hěn gǎnxiè nǐ qūfēn le zhè liǎng diǎn, yīnwèi zhè huì gǎibiàn wǒ lǐjiě pīpíng de fāngshì. I appreciate that distinction, because it changes how I interpret criticism.

Word by Word

我我 means “I” or “me” here, referring to the speaker. It commonly appears before the verb, as in 我注意到, or before a description such as 我确实有点沮丧.

注意到注意到 means “notice” or “notice that” something is the case. In 我注意到你..., it introduces what the speaker observed, and it can be followed by a person and an observation.

你你 means “you,” referring to the person receiving the feedback. It appears as the person observed in 你在评审时好像有些沮丧 and can also follow a verb such as 通知你.

在在 marks the time or setting of an action here: 在评审时 means “during the review.” It commonly comes before a place or time expression.

评审评审 means “review” in this workplace context. In 评审时, it names the review period and is followed by 时 to express “during the review.”

时时 means “when” or “during” in 评审时. It follows a time or event expression to identify when something happens.

好像好像 means “seem” or “appear to,” showing that the speaker is making an observation rather than stating it with complete certainty. In 好像有些沮丧, it comes before the observed state.

有些有些 means “somewhat” or “a little” here, reducing the strength of the description. In 有些沮丧, it comes before the feeling being described.

沮丧沮丧 describes feeling frustrated or discouraged in this review situation. It can follow expressions such as 有些 or 有点 to show the degree of the feeling.

确实确实 means “indeed” or “that is true,” confirming the previous observation. In 我确实有点沮丧, it appears before the description to acknowledge it directly.

有点有点 means “a little” or “somewhat” and makes the following description less strong. Here 有点沮丧 describes a limited degree of frustration.

不过不过 means “but” or “however,” introducing a qualification to what was just said. It connects the admission of feeling frustrated with the effort not to let it dominate.

尽量尽量 means “as much as possible” or “try one’s best to.” In 尽量没让..., it shows an effort to prevent the following situation.

没没 makes the following action negative here: 没让 means “did not let.” It appears before 让 to say that the speaker did not allow the emotion to take over.

让让 means “let” or “allow” in 让这种情绪占据主导. It commonly uses the pattern 让 + person or thing + action to describe allowing something to happen.

这种这种 means “this kind of,” referring to the emotion just discussed. In 这种情绪, it comes before a noun to identify a particular type of emotion.

情绪情绪 means “emotion” or “emotional state” here. In 这种情绪, it identifies the feeling that the speaker tried not to let dominate.

占据占据 means “occupy” or “take over” in 占据主导. It describes something taking up a position or controlling the situation, and it can be followed by the position or area occupied.

主导主导 means “the dominant role” or “the leading position” here. In 占据主导, it names the position that the emotion was not allowed to take over.

那些那些 means “those,” referring to the comments already mentioned in the discussion. It appears before 意见 to identify particular comments.

意见意见 means “comments” or “opinions” here, specifically the feedback given during the review. It can be modified by descriptions such as 直接.

很很 means “very” and marks the degree of the description. In 很直接, it comes before 直接 to describe how direct the comments were.

直接直接 means “direct” here, describing the style of the comments. It can follow 很 and modify a noun such as 意见 through the surrounding sentence.

但但 means “but,” marking a contrast between the comments being direct and their target being the work. It connects two contrasting parts of the sentence.

针对针对 means “be aimed at” or “target” in 针对的是工作本身. It identifies what the comments were directed toward, while the full sentence says that the target was the work itself.

的的 in 针对的是工作本身 helps turn the preceding 针对 phrase into the identified target of 是. In this sentence, 针对的是... means “what it was aimed at was...”.

是是 identifies or equates the target in 针对的是工作本身. It presents 工作本身 as the thing that the comments were aimed at.

工作工作 means “work” in this workplace discussion. In 工作本身, it names what the comments concerned rather than the person receiving them.

本身本身 means “itself” or “in itself,” emphasizing the noun immediately before it. 工作本身 therefore means “the work itself.”

现在现在 means “now,” referring to the speaker’s present understanding. In 我现在明白..., it contrasts with the earlier moment when the timing was unexpected.

明白明白 means “understand” here. In 明白这一点了, it describes understanding the distinction or fact being discussed.

这这 means “this,” pointing to the point or fact just discussed. In 这一点, it appears before 点 to refer to a specific matter.

点点 means “point” or “aspect” in 这一点. The expression 这一点 refers to the particular understanding mentioned immediately before.

了了 in 明白这一点了 marks a changed situation: the speaker now understands this point. It appears at the end of the statement to show that the situation has become different.

当时当时 means “at that time,” referring to the earlier moment of the review. It contrasts with 现在 in the explanation of what the speaker understands now.

时机时机 means “timing,” especially whether the moment for something was suitable or expected. Here the timing of the comments is what caused the speaker to feel unprepared.

措手不及措手不及 is a fixed expression meaning “be caught off guard” or “be unprepared to respond.” Within it, 措手 conveys dealing with or taking action in response, while 不及 conveys not having enough time; together they describe a situation arriving too suddenly.

如果如果 means “if” and introduces a condition. In 如果我们预计..., it sets the condition under which the team can notify the person in advance.

我们我们 means “we” or “us,” referring to the people giving the feedback. It is the subject of 我们预计 and can appear before the action being planned.

预计预计 means “expect” or “anticipate” here. In 预计要给出..., it introduces an expected future action and is followed by what the speakers expect to do.

要要 indicates an anticipated or planned action in 要给出. It shows that the speakers expect to provide the feedback, rather than describing an action already completed.

给出给出 means “give” or “provide” in 给出比较敏感的反馈. It commonly takes the thing being provided as its object, here 比较敏感的反馈.

比较比较 means “relatively” or “rather” here, making 敏感 less absolute. In 比较敏感的反馈, it comes before 敏感 to describe the degree of sensitivity.

敏感敏感 means “sensitive” in 敏感的反馈, referring to feedback that may be difficult to receive. It appears before 的反馈 to describe the type of feedback.

反馈反馈 means “feedback,” specifically the comments being given about the work. It can be modified by 敏感的 and can follow 给出 as the thing provided.

可以可以 means “can” or “it is possible to” here. In 可以提前通知你, it presents advance notification as a possible action under the stated condition.

提前提前 means “in advance” or “earlier than the relevant time.” In 提前通知你, it comes before the action to show that the notification happens before the feedback.

通知通知 means “notify” or “inform.” In 提前通知你, 你 is the person receiving the information, and the phrase describes informing someone beforehand.

那样那样 means “that way” and refers to the advance notice just proposed. In 那样能帮助我..., it introduces the expected effect of that arrangement.

能能 means “can” or “be able to,” expressing the possible result of the advance notice. In 能帮助我..., it comes before the action that would become possible.

帮助帮助 means “help.” In 帮助我回应..., it uses the pattern 帮助 + person + action to say that something helps a person carry out an action.

当下当下 means “at the moment” or “in the immediate situation.” In 当下回应, it describes responding while the feedback is being received.

更更 means “more,” comparing the quality of the response with how it might otherwise be. In 更周全地回应, it increases the degree of 周全.

周全周全 means “thoughtful,” “careful,” or “considered” in this context. It describes a response that takes the situation into account, as in 周全地回应.

地地 links 周全 to the action 回应 and marks 周全地 as describing how the response is made. The phrase 周全地回应 means “respond thoughtfully” or “respond in a considered way.”

回应回应 means “respond” or “reply” to the feedback being discussed. In 周全地回应, it is the action carried out in a thoughtful manner.

你的你的 means “your,” identifying something belonging to or produced by the person being addressed. In 你的分析, it comes before the noun 分析.

分析分析 means “analysis,” referring to the work the speaker produced. In 你的分析很有价值, it is evaluated as valuable even though some parts need revision.

有有 means “have” or “possess” in 有价值. Together with 价值, it expresses that something possesses value.

价值价值 means “value” or “worth.” In 有价值, it describes the analysis as worthwhile or useful.

即使即使 means “even if” or “even though,” introducing a concession. In 即使有些地方需要修改也是如此, it presents needed revisions as a condition that does not change the positive evaluation.

地方地方 means “place” in many contexts, but here it means “aspect” or “part” of the analysis. 有些地方 refers to some parts that need revision.

需要需要 means “need” or “require.” In 需要修改, it says that revision is required for some parts.

修改修改 means “revise” or “modify,” especially written work or an analysis. In 需要修改, it is the action required for some parts.

也也 means “also” or “even,” and in 即使...也... it helps express that the result remains true despite the condition. Here it supports the statement that the analysis is still valuable.

如此如此 means “so” or “as described.” In 也是如此, it refers back to the statement that the analysis was valuable.

感谢感谢 means “thank” or “appreciate.” In 我很感谢你区分了这两点, it expresses appreciation for the other person’s act of making the distinction.

区分区分 means “distinguish” or “differentiate.” In 区分了这两点, it describes separating two points so that they are understood as different.

因为因为 means “because” and introduces the reason for the speaker’s appreciation. In 因为这会改变..., it explains why the distinction matters.

会会 means “will” or “is likely to” in 这会改变... It presents the change as an expected result of the distinction.

改变改变 means “change” or “alter.” In 改变我理解批评的方式, it describes changing the way the speaker understands criticism.

理解理解 means “understand” or “interpret” here. In 我理解批评的方式, it refers to the way the speaker makes sense of criticism.

批评批评 means “criticism” in this workplace feedback context. In 理解批评, it is the feedback or negative assessment that the speaker is learning to interpret.

方式方式 means “way” or “manner.” In 理解批评的方式, it names the method or manner in which criticism is understood.

Grammar Points

好像 + 主语 + 谓语

他好像很沮丧。

Tā hǎoxiàng hěn jǔsàng.

He seems frustrated.

好像 usually follows the subject and comes before the predicate to express an uncertain judgment based on what is observed.

尽量 + 动词

我们尽量提前通知。

Wǒmen jǐnliàng tíqián tōngzhī.

We will try to notify them in advance.

尽量 comes before a verb and means making the greatest possible effort to do something.

Chinese Vocabulary

本身 pron

běnshēn itself; in itself

好像 adv

hǎoxiàng seem; as if

尽量 adv

jǐnliàng as much as possible; try one's best

沮丧 adj

jǔsàng frustrated; discouraged

评审 noun

píngshěn review; evaluation

情绪 noun

qíngxù emotion; mood

确实 adv

quèshí indeed; really

意见 noun

yìjiàn comment; opinion

占据主导 phrase

zhànjù zhǔdǎo dominate; take control

针对 verb

zhēnduì be directed at; target

直接 adj

zhíjiē direct

注意到 verb

zhùyì dào notice

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

dominate; take control

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占据主导

as much as possible; try one's best

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尽量

direct

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直接

seem; as if

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好像