👤🗣️🤏🇨🇳

How to Say ‘I speak a little Chinese’ in Simplified Chinese

我会说一点中文

wǒ huì shuō yì diǎn zhōng wén

[waw huì shwaw ee-dyen Zhōngwén]

💬 Usage Tip: Here 一 is said (yì), not (yī), because it comes before the third-tone 点.

🇨🇳 In China: Saying this usually earns a delighted reaction, and often a 你的中文很好！ "your Chinese is great!". The modest reply is 哪里哪里 "oh, not at all".

Phrase Breakdown

我会说

wǒ huì shuō

I can speak

我 (wǒ) means 'I', 会 (huì) means 'can', and 说 (shuō) means 'speak'.

Example

我会说英语。

I can speak English.

Words in this phrase

我

wǒ

[waw]

I; me

The first-person pronoun, used to refer to yourself.

Example

我也想了解这个公司的文化。

I also want to understand this company’s culture.

会

huì

[huì]

can; know how to

Expresses a learned skill or ability, such as speaking a language.

Example

他会游泳。

He can swim.

说

shuō

[shwaw]

to speak; to say

A common verb for speaking or saying something.

Example

请你说中文。

Please speak Chinese.

一点中文

yì diǎn zhōng wén

a little Chinese

一点 (yìdiǎn) means 'a little' and 中文 (Zhōngwén) means 'Chinese'.

Example

他学了一点中文。

He learned a little Chinese.

Words in this phrase

一点

yì diǎn

[ee-dyen]

a little; a bit

Adds softness by meaning 'a little' or 'a bit' in degree or time.

Example

我们晚一点再联系吧。

Let’s contact each other a bit later.

中文

zhōng wén

[Zhōngwén]

Chinese language

The Chinese language, especially written or spoken Mandarin.

Example

你的中文很好。

Your Chinese is very good.

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