Learning Chinese: How to Ask "Can You Explain That?" in Chinese
Chinese Characters: 能不能解释一下?
Pinyin: Néng bùnéng jiěshì yíxià?
Pronunciation: neng2 bu4 neng2 jie3 shi4 yi4 xia4
English Translation: Can you explain that?
Usage:
"能不能解释一下? (néng bùnéng jiěshì yíxià?)" is a polite way to ask someone to explain something that you don't understand. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.
Example:
Chinese: 这个单词是什么意思?能不能解释一下?
Pinyin: Zhè ge cí huì shì shénme yìsi? Néng bùnéng jiěshì yíxià?
English: What does this word mean? Can you explain it to me?
Variations:
There are a few variations of "能不能解释一下? (néng bùnéng jiěshì yíxià?)" that you may hear:
你能解释一下吗? (nǐ néng jiěshì yíxià ma?): A more direct way to ask someone to explain something.
请解释一下。 (qǐng jiěshì yíxià): A more formal way to ask for an explanation.
Tips for Learning:
Practice saying "能不能解释一下? (néng bùnéng jiěshì yíxià?)" out loud to improve your pronunciation.
Listen to native Chinese speakers asking for explanations to get a sense of the natural rhythm and intonation.
Use "能不能解释一下? (néng bùnéng jiěshì yíxià?)" in your daily conversations to practice using it in context.
Additional Notes:
"能不能解释一下? (néng bùnéng jiěshì yíxià?)" is a very common phrase in Chinese.
It is important to be polite when asking for an explanation, especially in formal settings.
If you are still having trouble understanding something after someone has explained it to you, you can say "我还不明白。 (wǒ hái bù míngbái)", which means "I still don't understand."
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