How to Say ‘I don't speak Chinese very well.’ in Simplified Chinese
我的中文说得不太好。
wǒ de zhōng wén shuō dé bù tài hǎo
[wo duh Zhōngwén shuō duh bù tài hǎo]
🇨🇳 In China: Naming a modest, fixable weakness like your Chinese level is a common, safe interview move. It's even better if you then add that you're working on it.
Phrase Breakdown
我的中文
wǒ de zhōng wén
my Chinese
我的 means 'my', and 中文 means 'Chinese (language)'. Say 'wǒ de' quickly and lightly, then stress 'zhōngwén'.
我的中文老师很好。
My Chinese teacher is very good.
Words in this phrase
我
wǒ
[wo]
I
The speaker referring to themselves.
我明天有空。
I am free tomorrow.
的
de
[duh]
's; of
A structural particle showing possession or description, like “of” or apostrophe-s in English.
贵公司的团队很年轻。
Your company’s team is very young.
中文
zhōng wén
[Zhōngwén]
Chinese language
The Chinese language, especially written or spoken Mandarin.
你的中文很好。
Your Chinese is very good.
说得不太好。
shuō dé bù tài hǎo
(I) don't speak it very well
得 links a verb to a comment on how it is done. 不太好 means 'not very good'. 不 changes to second tone (bú) before the fourth-tone 太.
他唱得不太好。
He doesn't sing very well.
Words in this phrase
说
shuō
[shuō]
to speak; to say
A basic verb for talking or saying something; used alone it invites someone to go ahead and speak.
请你慢一点说。
Please speak a bit more slowly.
得
dé
[duh]
structural particle used after a verb
Used after a verb to introduce the result or degree, as in 'chat in a certain way.'
我们聊得很开心，以后可以再见。
We chatted very happily and can meet again later.
不
bù
[bù]
not
Used to form the negative of verbs.
他不想参与。
He does not want to participate.
太
tài
[tài]
very; quite
After 不, it softens the negative: 'not very'.
我不太喜欢甜的。
I don't really like sweet things.
好
hǎo
[hǎo]
good
Something positive or satisfactory.
今天的天气很好。
Today's weather is good.
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