请再说一遍
qǐng zài shuō yí biàn
Please say it again
How to ask "Do you speak English?" in Chinese
你会说英语吗？
nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?
Do you speak English?
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
The structure is 你 (you) + 会 (can) + 说 (speak) + 英语 (English) + 吗 (question particle). 会 indicates ability or skill.
Variations and politeness
您会说英语吗？
nín huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?
Do you speak English? (polite) — More polite because it uses 您 (nín), the respectful form of 'you'.
你会说英文吗？
nǐ huì shuō Yīngwén ma?
Do you speak English? (casual) — More casual because it uses 英文 (Yīngwén), a colloquial word for English.
Mini dialogue
A
你好！你会说英语吗？
Nǐ hǎo! Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?
Hello! Do you speak English?
B
会的，我会说英语。
Huì de, wǒ huì shuō Yīngyǔ.
Yes, I can speak English.
When to use it
Appropriate
- When you need to ask if someone can communicate in English, especially in a Chinese-speaking environment.
- When you want to politely check if English is an option before continuing a conversation.
Avoid when
- When you already know the person speaks English; asking would be redundant.
- When you want to ask if someone is currently speaking English (use 'Are you speaking English?' instead).
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'Do you speak English?' in Chinese?
You say '你会说英语吗？' (nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?). It literally means 'Can you speak English?'
How do you pronounce '你会说英语吗？'?
It is pronounced 'nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?'. Pay attention to the tones: nǐ (3rd tone), huì (4th tone), shuō (1st tone), Yīng (1st tone), yǔ (3rd tone), ma (neutral).
When do you use '你会说英语吗？'?
Use it when you need to find out if someone can speak English, for example when you are lost or need help in China. It is polite and appropriate in most situations.
More phrases for this situation
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