Chinese word

说慢一点

Pronunciation

Pinyinshuō màn yī diǎn

Meaning

  • verbspeak a little slower

Example

我听不清，你能说慢一点吗？wǒ tīng bù qīng nǐ néng shuō màn yì diǎn ma

I can't hear you clearly. Can you speak a little slower?

Illustration for 说慢一点 (speak a little slower)

More examples

教外语时，老师让学生说慢一点来练习发音。jiào wài yǔ shí lǎo shī ràng xué shēng shuō màn yì diǎn lái liàn xí fā yīn

When teaching a foreign language, the teacher has students speak a little slower to practice pronunciation.

Core concept

A small adjustment to speaking pace that gives the listener time to catch each word and process it.

Common phrases

  • 和孩子说慢一点hé hái zi shuō màn yì diǎn

    speak a little slower with children

  • 跟听不懂的人说慢一点gēn tīng bù dǒng de rén shuō màn yì diǎn

    speak a little slower with people who do not understand

Similar words

说清楚shuō qīng chǔ: A request to make the meaning and details easy to understand.
再说一遍zài shuō yí biàn: A request to repeat the same message once more after it was missed.

Definition in Chinese

用来请对方把说话的速度减慢一些，便于听懂或记笔记，语气可随场合变得更礼貌。yòng lái qǐng duì fāng bǎ shuō huà de sù dù jiǎn màn yì xiē biàn yú tīng dǒng huò jì bǐ jì yǔ qì kě suí chǎng hé biàn de gèng lǐ mào

Word origin

The phrase combines 说 (shuō, "speak") with 慢 (màn, "slow"), while 一点 (yīdiǎn, "a little") limits the change to a small degree.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may hear "slow down" as a stronger command, so the small-degree wording helps present the request as cooperative rather than critical.

Opposites

  • 说快一点shuō kuài yì diǎnspeak a little fasterverb

Related words

Word lists with this word