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How to Say ‘I Don’t Understand’ in Chinese
Two phrases that keep a conversation going when Mandarin comes too fast.
Quick answer
Say 我听不懂 when you do not understand, then ask 你可以再说一遍吗？for a repeat.
我听不懂。
I don’t understand.
你可以再说一遍吗？
Can you say it again?
Hear the phrase, then repeat it aloud.
When to use it
Use 我听不懂
when the Mandarin is beyond you. If you only missed one sentence, 我没听清楚 (wǒ méi tīng qīngchu, ‘I didn’t catch that’) is more precise. Either way, most people will slow down and repeat if you ask.
Common mistake
听不懂
is about listening. If you cannot understand something written, use 看不懂
instead.
Practise aloud
Read each conversation from top to bottom.
不好意思，我听不懂。你可以再说一遍吗？ Sorry, I don’t understand. Can you say it again?
好的，没问题。 Sure, no problem.
谢谢！ Thank you!
You’ve got this!
Do not wait until you are completely lost. Saying 我听不懂 early keeps the conversation friendly and gives you a second chance at the meaning.