请
please
A polite request starter.
Mandarin guided learning
When you do not understand
Your first survival skill is keeping a conversation going when the reply is unfamiliar.
Picture the idea
A repair phrase buys you another attempt. 慢 means slow; 再 means again. Learn the whole request, then notice which piece changes the job.
Useful words
说
say / speak
The action you ask the other person to do.
慢一点
a little slower
慢 = slow; 一点 = a little.
再
again
Another attempt, not the location word 在, also pronounced zài.
一遍
one complete repetition
Use with saying something again.
写下来
write it down
Turn an unfamiliar spoken phrase into something visible.
Read the display
| 你需要 · you need | 用这句 · use this |
|---|---|
慢一点 a little slower | 请说慢一点。 Please speak a little slower. |
再说 say again | 请再说一遍。 Please say it again. |
写下来 write it down | 请写下来。 Please write it down. |
Find the information
Which request asks for the same message again?
- 请写下来。
- 请再说一遍。
- 请说慢一点。
Answer and explanation
请再说一遍。
再 is again; 一遍 is one complete repeat. Slow speech and written speech solve different problems.
Build your request
Please + action + how you want it done.
请说慢一点。
Please speak a little slower.
The sentence pieces
请
please
说
speak
慢一点
a little slower
Understand the reply
好的，我再说一遍。
Okay, I will say it again.
What does this reply mean?
- They will say it again.
- They want you to pay.
- They cannot help.
Answer and explanation
They will say it again.
Okay, I will say it again.
谢谢。
Thank you.
Use it in another situation
If the second attempt still fails, use 请写下来. Recognizing a repair phrase is only useful if you can retrieve it while under pressure.