About This Lesson
Use Repairing Trust After a Sharp Message to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我觉得我之前的信息听起来比我的本意更尖锐。
wǒ juéde wǒ zhīqián de xìnxī tīng qǐlái bǐ wǒ de běnyì gèng jiānruì. I think my earlier message came across sharper than I meant it to.
B
确实如此，不过我在想，是不是我漏掉了什么背景。
quèshí rúcǐ, búguò wǒ zài xiǎng, shì bú shì wǒ lòudiào le shénme bèijǐng. It did, though I wondered if I was missing some context.
A
我因为别的事情感到沮丧，所以回复得太快了。
wǒ yīnwèi bié de shìqing gǎndào jǔsàng, suǒyǐ huífù de tài kuài le. I was frustrated about something else and replied too quickly.
B
这解释了你的语气，但那些话还是影响了我。
zhè jiěshì le nǐ de yǔqì, dàn nàxiē huà háishi yǐngxiǎng le wǒ. That explains the tone, but the words still affected me.
A
我愿意为此负责，也想弥补我的过失。
wǒ yuànyì wèi cǐ fùzé, yě xiǎng míbǔ wǒ de guòshī. I take responsibility for that, and I want to repair it.
B
谢谢你承认这一点。这让重建信任变得更容易。
xièxie nǐ chéngrèn zhè yí diǎn. Zhè ràng chóngjiàn xìnrèn biàn de gèng róngyì. I appreciate the acknowledgment. It makes trust easier to rebuild.
A
下次感到压力时，我会先暂停一下再回复。
xià cì gǎndào yālì shí, wǒ huì xiān zàntíng yíxià zài huífù. Next time, I'll pause before replying when I'm stressed.
B
那会有帮助，而且在猜测你的意图之前，我会先询问。
nà huì yǒu bāngzhù, érqiě zài cāicè nǐ de yìtú zhīqián, wǒ huì xiān xúnwèn. That would help, and I'll ask before assuming intent.Word by Word
我
我 identifies the speaker as I in 我觉得我之前的信息 and 我因为别的事情感到沮丧. It is placed before the verb or feeling expression to show who thinks, feels, or acts, including when taking responsibility.
觉得
觉得 means think or feel in 我觉得我之前的信息听起来比我的本意更尖锐, introducing the speaker’s assessment. It commonly comes before a clause or description when giving an opinion.
之前
之前 means earlier or before in 之前的信息, referring to the message sent earlier. It commonly comes before 的 plus a noun to describe an earlier item.
的
的 links 之前 to 信息 in 之前的信息, making the first part describe the message. It commonly follows a modifier and comes before the noun it describes.
信息
信息 means message in 我之前的信息, referring here to the earlier written communication. It can be used for information or a message, and the surrounding context determines which meaning applies.
听起来
听起来 means sounds or comes across as in 我之前的信息听起来比我的本意更尖锐, describing how the message was perceived. Here 听 contributes the sense of hearing or perceiving, while 起来 helps present the resulting impression; together, 听起来 takes a description such as 尖锐.
比
比 marks the comparison in 比我的本意更尖锐. It sets up the thing being compared with the speaker’s intended meaning, and the following description gives the difference in degree.
本意
本意 means original intention in 我的本意, referring to what the speaker meant the message to convey. It is useful when clarifying the intended meaning of words or an action.
更
更 means more in 比我的本意更尖锐, showing that the message seemed sharper to a greater degree than the original intention. It commonly comes before a description in a comparison.
尖锐
尖锐 means sharp or harsh in 听起来比我的本意更尖锐, describing the interpersonal effect or tone of the message. In this context, it characterizes words that sound more severe than intended.
确实
确实 confirms the previous statement in 确实如此, meaning that the message really did come across that way. It is useful when acknowledging that another person’s description is accurate before adding a qualification.
如此
如此 means so or like this in 确实如此, referring back to the earlier claim that the message sounded sharper. Together with 确实, it forms a concise way to confirm a previously stated situation.
不过
不过 introduces a qualification in 确实如此，不过我在想, meaning however or though. It connects agreement with the additional concern about missing context.
在
在 marks the thought process in 我在想, showing that the speaker is considering something. It can come before an action to place the speaker in the process of doing it.
想
想 means wonder or think about in 我在想，是不是我漏掉了什么背景. Here it introduces the possibility the speaker is considering, rather than expressing a firm conclusion.
是不是
是不是 asks whether something is the case in 是不是我漏掉了什么背景. The repeated 是 with 不 between them forms a yes-or-no question: the first 是 presents the possibility, 不 negates it, and the final 是 completes the alternative question form.
漏掉
漏掉 means miss or leave out in 漏掉了什么背景, referring to failing to include some context. It takes the omitted information as its object and presents the omission as a missed result.
了
了 follows 漏掉 in 漏掉了什么背景 and marks the omission as having occurred or as a completed situation under consideration. It commonly follows a verb when the action or resulting situation is relevant now.
什么
什么 refers to an unspecified piece of information in 什么背景, asking what context may have been missed. In this question, it does not identify the context in advance.
背景
背景 means context or background in 漏掉了什么背景, referring to surrounding information needed to interpret the message. It is useful when explaining why words or actions should be understood differently.
因为
因为 introduces the reason in 因为别的事情感到沮丧, explaining what caused the speaker’s frustration. It commonly comes before a cause that leads to the result stated later.
别的
别的 means other or else in 别的事情, indicating a matter different from the message-related issue being discussed. It commonly comes before 的 plus a noun to identify a different item.
事情
事情 means matter or thing in 别的事情, referring to another issue that caused frustration. It can describe an event, problem, or situation rather than a physical object.
感到
感到 means feel or experience in 感到沮丧, introducing the emotional state the speaker experienced. It commonly comes before a feeling or condition.
沮丧
沮丧 means frustrated or discouraged in 感到沮丧, describing the speaker’s emotional state. It is used here to explain why the reply was sent too quickly.
所以
所以 introduces the result in 所以回复得太快了, linking the earlier frustration to the overly quick reply. It commonly follows a reason introduced by 因为.
回复
回复 means reply or respond in 回复得太快了, referring to sending a response to the earlier message. It is commonly used when talking about answering a message or communication.
得
得 links 回复 to 太快 in 回复得太快了, allowing the sentence to describe how the replying was done. It commonly follows a verb and comes before a description of manner or degree.
太
太 means too or excessively in 太快, showing that the speed was greater than appropriate. It commonly comes before an adjective or adverb when the degree is viewed negatively or as excessive.
快
快 describes speed in 回复得太快了, meaning the reply was sent quickly. Here it evaluates the timing of the action rather than describing the message itself.
这
这 means this in 这解释了你的语气, pointing to the frustration and surrounding context just mentioned. It is used at the start of the sentence to refer to a nearby fact or situation.
解释
解释 means explain or account for in 这解释了你的语气, saying that the other circumstance accounts for the tone. It commonly takes the thing being explained or accounted for as its object.
你
你 identifies the other person as you in 你的语气. Before 的, it marks whose tone or associated thing is being discussed.
语气
语气 means tone in 你的语气, referring to the attitude conveyed by the message. It helps distinguish the way words sounded from the effect of their literal content.
但
但 means but in 但那些话还是影响了我, introducing a contrast with the explanation that came before. It connects two clauses when the second point remains important despite the first.
那些
那些 means those in 那些话, pointing to the particular words already under discussion. It commonly comes before a noun to identify specific items at a distance in the conversation.
话
话 means words or remarks in 那些话, referring to what was written or said and its effect on the listener. Here it is the content that affected the speaker.
还是
还是 means still or nevertheless in 还是影响了我, emphasizing that the words continued to have an effect despite the explanation. It is useful when a result remains true after another fact has been acknowledged.
影响
影响 means affect in 影响了我, with the words as the cause and the speaker as the affected person. It commonly describes how one person’s words or actions have an effect on another person or situation.
愿意
愿意 expresses willingness in 我愿意为此负责, showing that the speaker is prepared to take responsibility. It commonly comes before the action or commitment the person is willing to make.
为
为 means for or on account of in 为此负责, linking responsibility to the matter being discussed. In this expression, it shows what the responsibility concerns.
此
此 means this matter in 为此, referring back to the sharp message and its effect. It provides a compact reference to the issue already under discussion.
负责
负责 means take responsibility in 为此负责, showing that the speaker accepts accountability for the matter. In the dialogue, it follows 为 to identify what the responsibility concerns.
也
也 means also in 也想弥补我的过失, connecting a second intention to the willingness already stated. It commonly adds another action by the same subject.
弥补
弥补 means make up for or repair in 弥补我的过失, referring to an effort to correct the harm or fault. It commonly takes the mistake, loss, or damage being repaired as its object.
过失
过失 means fault or mistake in 我的过失, identifying the speaker’s own error. It is used here in a context of accepting responsibility and trying to repair the result.
谢谢
谢谢 expresses thanks in 谢谢你承认这一点, thanking the other person for acknowledging the matter. It commonly comes before the person being thanked and the action or reason for the thanks.
承认
承认 means acknowledge or admit in 承认这一点, referring to openly recognizing the point being discussed. It commonly takes a fact, point, or responsibility as its object.
一点
一点 means this point or this matter inside 这一点, rather than a small amount. The full expression 这一点 refers to the specific acknowledgment just made.
让
让 means make or cause in 让重建信任变得更容易, showing that one action causes a change in how easy another action is. It introduces the action or situation that produces the result.
重建
重建 means rebuild in 重建信任, referring to restoring trust after it has been damaged. It commonly takes the relationship, confidence, or structure being restored as its object.
信任
信任 means trust in 重建信任, referring to confidence between the two people. Here it is something that can be restored through acknowledgment and changed behavior.
变得
变得 means become in 变得更容易, marking a change into a new state. It commonly comes before a description of the resulting condition.
容易
容易 means easy in 变得更容易, describing rebuilding trust as requiring less difficulty after the acknowledgment. It follows 变得 to express the new degree of ease.
下次
下次 means next time in 下次感到压力时, introducing a future occasion for the speaker’s planned behavior. It commonly comes before a time condition or the action planned for that occasion.
压力
压力 means stress or pressure in 感到压力时, describing the state that may affect how the speaker replies. It commonly appears after 感到 when naming an experienced pressure.
时
时 means when or at the time of in 感到压力时, turning the preceding state into a time condition. It comes after the situation that determines when the main action will happen.
会
会 marks an expected future action or result in 我会先暂停一下 and 那会有帮助. In the first phrase it presents a personal plan, while in the second it presents the expected benefit of that plan.
先
先 means first in 先暂停一下再回复, ordering the pause before the reply. It commonly works with a later action to show the sequence of two steps.
暂停
暂停 means pause in 先暂停一下, referring to deliberately stopping before replying. It is used here as a self-control action during a stressful moment.
一下
一下 softens and limits 暂停一下, suggesting a brief pause rather than an extended stop. It commonly follows an action verb when the action is short or expressed more lightly.
再
再 means then in 先暂停一下再回复, marking the action that happens after the pause. Here it indicates sequence rather than repetition.
那
那 means that in 那会有帮助, referring to the proposed action of pausing before replying. It points back to a just-mentioned action and evaluates its likely result.
有
有 means be or provide in 有帮助, expressing that something is helpful. In this expression, it is followed by 帮助 to evaluate the usefulness of the proposed action.
帮助
帮助 means help or benefit in 有帮助, describing the proposed pause as useful. The expression 有帮助 evaluates an action by its positive effect.
而且
而且 means and moreover in 而且我会先询问, adding another cooperative commitment to the previous statement. It commonly connects an additional point or action.
猜测
猜测 means guess or assume in 猜测意图, referring to forming a view about someone’s intention without first asking. It takes the intention being inferred as its object.
意图
意图 means intent or intention in 猜测意图, referring to the purpose behind the other person’s message. It is the thing that the speaker promises not to assume without clarification.
询问
询问 means ask or inquire in 先询问, referring to asking for clarification before forming an assumption. It is useful when seeking information from another person about a situation or intention.
Grammar Points
听起来 + 形容词
这条信息听起来很尖锐。
zhè tiáo xìnxī tīng qǐlái hěn jiānruì.This message sounds harsh.
“听起来”后面接形容词，用来描述听到的内容给人的感觉。
为 + 对象 + 负责
我会为此负责。
wǒ huì wèi cǐ fùzé.I will take responsibility for this.
“为”引出需要负责的对象；“此”指前面提到的事情。
Chinese Vocabulary
背景
noun
bèijǐng
context; background
本意
noun
běnyì
original intention; intended meaning
不过
conj
búguò
however; though
回复
verb
huífù
to reply; to respond
尖锐
adj
jiānruì
sharp; harsh
沮丧
adj
jǔsàng
frustrated; dejected
漏掉
verb
lòudiào
to miss; to leave out
确实如此
phrase
quèshí rúcǐ
that is indeed the case
听起来
verb
tīng qǐlái
to sound
信息
noun
xìnxī
message; information
语气
noun
yǔqì
tone
之前
adv
zhīqián
earlier; before
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
that is indeed the case
Show Answer
确实如此however; though
Show Answer
不过message; information
Show Answer
信息context; background