你说什么？
nǐ shuō shénme?
What did you say?
How to say "please say it again" in Chinese
请再说一遍
qǐng zài shuō yí biàn
Please say it again
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
This is a polite request: 请 (qǐng) means 'please', 再 (zài) means 'again', 说 (shuō) means 'say', and 一遍 (yí biàn) is a measure word for 'one time'. So it literally means 'please say one more time'.
Variations and politeness
请再说一次
qǐng zài shuō yī cì
Please say it one more time. — Uses '一次' (one time) instead of '一遍', making it slightly more casual.
麻烦您再说一遍
máfan nín zài shuō yí biàn
Sorry to trouble you, please say it again. — More polite because it adds '麻烦您' (sorry to trouble you).
再说一遍
zài shuō yí biàn
Say it again. — Shorter and more direct, without 'please'.
Mini dialogue
A
你能再说一遍吗？
nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma?
Can you say it again?
B
当然可以，请再说一遍。
dāngrán kěyǐ, qǐng zài shuō yí biàn.
Of course, please say it again.
When to use it
Appropriate
- When you didn't hear what someone said and need them to repeat it.
- When you didn't fully understand and want the speaker to say it once more.
- In both formal and informal situations, as it is a polite request.
Avoid when
- When you want to ask someone to speak more slowly, not just repeat.
- When you need clarification on a specific part, not the whole sentence.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'please say it again' in Chinese?
You say '请再说一遍' (qǐng zài shuō yí biàn).
How do you pronounce '请再说一遍'?
It is pronounced 'qǐng zài shuō yí biàn'. Note that '一' is pronounced 'yí' before the fourth tone '遍'.
When do you use '请再说一遍'?
Use it when you need someone to repeat what they said because you didn't hear or understand. It's polite and suitable for most situations.
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