💰⬆️🤏❓

How to Say ‘Could the salary be raised a little?’ in Traditional Chinese

薪水可以調高一點嗎？

xīn shuǐ kě yǐ diào gāo yī diǎn ma

[xīnshuǐ kuh-yee tiáogāo yìdiǎn ma]

🇹🇼 In Taiwan: Framing the raise as a yes-or-no question about possibility, rather than as a demand, is how most Taiwanese employees would raise it. Being direct is fine once the boss asks for a figure.

Phrase Breakdown

薪水可以

xīn shuǐ kě yǐ

can the salary

薪水 (xīnshuǐ) means 'salary', and 可以 (kěyǐ) means 'can'. The topic comes first in the sentence.

Example

薪水可以談嗎？

Can the salary be negotiated?

Words in this phrase

薪水

xīn shuǐ

[xīnshuǐ]

salary; wages

Money paid regularly for work.

Example

這個月的薪水還沒來。

This month's salary hasn't come yet.

可以

kě yǐ

[kuh-yee]

can; may

Used to express ability, permission, or that something is possible.

Example

你如果想加這位主管的聯絡方式，現在可以先自我介紹。

If you want to add this manager's contact information, you can introduce yourself first now.

調高一點嗎？

diào gāo yī diǎn ma

be raised a little?

調高 (tiáogāo) means 'to raise', and 一點 (yìdiǎn) means 'a little'. 嗎 (ma) turns the sentence into a yes/no question.

Example

冷氣可以調高一點嗎？

Can you turn the air conditioner up a little?

Words in this phrase

調高

diào gāo

[tiáogāo]

to raise; to adjust upward

To increase a level such as a price or salary.

Example

請把音量調高。

Please turn up the volume.

一點

yī diǎn

[yìdiǎn]

a little; a bit

Indicates a small amount; after 差 it expresses 'almost' or 'nearly'.

Example

我們只差一點就贏了。

We were just a little short of winning.

嗎

[ma]

question particle

A sentence-final particle used to turn a statement into a yes-no question.

Example

你喜歡這個活動嗎？

Do you like this event?

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