你叫什么名字？
nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
What's your name?
How to say "please speak more slowly" in Chinese
请说慢一点。
qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn
Please speak more slowly
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
This is a polite request: 请 (qǐng) means 'please', 说 (shuō) means 'speak', 慢 (màn) means 'slow', and 一点 (yìdiǎn) means 'a little'. Together it literally means 'please speak a little slow'.
Variations and politeness
请您说慢一点
qǐng nín shuō màn yìdiǎn
Please speak more slowly (polite form) — More formal and polite because it includes 您 (nín), the polite 'you'.
慢点儿
màn diǎnr
Speak slower — More casual and shorter, often used among friends.
Mini dialogue
A
你能再说一遍吗？
Nǐ néng zài shuō yī biàn ma?
Can you say that again?
B
当然，请说慢一点。
Dāngrán, qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn.
Of course, I'll speak more slowly.
When to use it
Appropriate
- When you are learning Chinese and need the speaker to slow down.
- When you didn't catch what someone said and want them to repeat it more slowly.
- In both casual and formal situations, as it is polite.
Avoid when
- When you want to command someone to slow down; this phrase is a polite request, not an order.
- When you are speaking to a close friend in a very informal setting; a shorter form like 慢点儿 (màn diǎnr) might be more natural.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'please speak more slowly' in Chinese?
You say 请说慢一点 (qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn).
How do you pronounce 请说慢一点?
It is pronounced qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn. The third tone in qǐng rises slightly, and yìdiǎn has a falling-rising tone on yì and a falling-rising tone on diǎn.
When should I use 请说慢一点?
Use it whenever you need someone to speak more slowly, especially if you are still learning Chinese. It is polite and appropriate in most situations.
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