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Say it in Chinese

How to say I don’t understand in Chinese

Updated

I don’t understand in Chinese is 听tīng不bu懂dǒng. Add 请qǐng慢màn一yì点diǎn (please, a bit slower), and most people will say it again slowly. Together they are the most useful phrase for a beginner.

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The phrase

听不懂，请慢一点。 (tīng bu dǒng, qǐng màn yì diǎn.) I don’t understand, please slow down.
  • 听不懂tīng bu dǒngcan't understand
  • 请qǐngplease
  • 慢mànslow
  • 一点yì diǎna bit

What it means

听tīng不bu懂dǒng means “I don’t understand” what I hear. 听tīng is “listen”, 不bù is “not” and 懂dǒng is “understand”. You heard the words but could not follow them.

请qǐng慢màn一yì点diǎn means “please, a bit slower”. 请qǐng is “please”, 慢màn is “slow” and 一yì点diǎn is “a little”.

Use the two together. The first says there is a problem. The second says what to do about it.

How to say it

Say tīng bu dǒng, qǐng màn yì diǎn.

  • tīng is high and level. bu is short and soft. dǒng dips low.
  • qǐng dips. màn falls. yì falls. diǎn dips.

一yī (one) is yī on its own. Before a dipping tone it becomes yì.

The pinyin shows how people really say it, the same as in the game.

When to use it

  1. A cashier who speaks fast

    At a checkout the questions come quickly: heat it or not, bag or not, member card, receipt. Say 听tīng不bu懂dǒng，请qǐng慢màn一yì点diǎn and the cashier slows down.

  2. A pharmacy or a hotel desk

    When it matters, like how many tablets to take, ask them to say it slowly. Staff are used to it.

  3. Directions in the street

    Directions often come as a list of turns. Ask them to slow down, and point the way you think they mean.

Other ways to say it

Shorter versions and a friendly one, all from the game.

  • 听不懂 (tīng bu dǒng) Don't understand

    On its own it can sound like you want to stop talking. Add 请qǐng慢màn一yì点diǎn if you want to go on.

  • 请慢一点 (qǐng màn yì diǎn) Please a bit slower

    Fine on its own if you caught some of it.

  • 太快了！请慢一点。 (tài kuài le! qǐng màn yì diǎn.) Too fast! Please a bit slower.

    A friendly, slightly playful version.

What people say back

  • 听不懂，请慢一点。 (tīng bu dǒng, qǐng màn yì diǎn.) I don’t understand, please slow down.

    The convenience store cashier says all her questions at once.

    They may say 好的好的，我慢慢说。 (hǎo de hǎo de, wǒ màn man shuō.) OK, OK, I will say it slowly. (Then she says each question again, very slowly.)
  • 听不懂，请慢一点。 (tīng bu dǒng, qǐng màn yì diǎn.) I don’t understand, please slow down.

    The same cashier, one question at a time.

    They may say 要——不——要——加——热？ (yào—— bu—— yào—— jiā—— rè?) Want — or not — heat? (Answer 要yào (yes) or 不bú要yào (no).)
  • 请慢一点 (qǐng màn yì diǎn) Please a bit slower

    Someone is telling you something important.

    They may say 好好，我慢慢说。 (hǎo hǎo, wǒ màn man shuō.) OK, OK, I'll say it slowly.

Common mistakes

  • Saying “I don’t know” instead

    不bù知zhī道dào means “I don’t know”. If you did not understand a question, 不bù知zhī道dào sounds like you understood it and have no answer. Say 听tīng不bu懂dǒng.

  • Nodding along

    If you pretend to understand, you may get the wrong order or miss an instruction. Asking once is quicker.

  • Asking for English

    Many people in shops and at stalls do not speak English. Asking them to slow down in Chinese works more often.

  • Giving up when they do not understand you

    It happens the other way too. In the game the noodle shop owner answers your first drink order with 什shén么me (what)? 再zài说shuō一yí遍biàn (say that again). You try a shorter version, 一yì杯bēi咖kā啡fēi (a cup of coffee). Shorter usually works.

Where it comes up in the game

  • The convenience store checkout

    The cashier asks five questions in one breath, and the subtitles flash past too fast to read. You put together 听tīng不bu懂dǒng and 请qǐng慢màn一yì点diǎn. She says each question again, one slow word at a time.

  • The pharmacy

    On a later morning you have a stomach ache. You ask the pharmacist to slow down so you can follow how many tablets to take and when.

  • Later in the week

    The phrase comes back on a train and in a water town. This time you say it without the word cards.

Questions

How do you say I don’t understand in Chinese?

I don’t understand in Chinese is 听tīng不bu懂dǒng. It means you heard what was said but could not follow it. Add 请qǐng慢màn一yì点diǎn (please, a bit slower) and people usually say it again slowly.

How do you say please speak slowly in Chinese?

Please speak slowly in Chinese is 请qǐng慢màn一yì点diǎn. Word for word it means “please, a bit slower”.

What is the difference between 听不懂 and 不懂?

听tīng不bu懂dǒng means you cannot understand what you hear. 不bù懂dǒng is a general “I don’t understand”, and can also be about an idea. For speech you did not catch, 听tīng不bu懂dǒng is clearer.

Why does 一 sound like yì in 一点?

一yī (one) is yī on its own. Before a dipping tone, like diǎn, it becomes yì. Before a falling tone it becomes yí, as in 一yí个ge (one).

Why is 不 short and soft in 听不懂?

In 听tīng不bu懂dǒng, 不bù sits between “listen” and “understand”. In that place it loses its tone and is said quickly and softly: tīng bu dǒng.

Will Chinese people slow down if I ask?

Most shop staff, drivers and pharmacists in China will say it again slowly if you say 听tīng不bu懂dǒng，请qǐng慢màn一yì点diǎn. Some will also show you numbers on a phone or calculator.