5 Short Phrases That Will Make Your Chinese Sound Much More Natural
There's a clear difference between the Chinese you learn in class and the Chinese people speak on the street. In class you learn correct grammar. On the street you hear short phrases that come up constantly, almost without anyone noticing, but when you use them, native speakers notice right away.
These particles and filler expressions are the glue of spoken Chinese. They don't change what a sentence means, but they do change how you sound: from a foreigner who knows Chinese to someone who speaks Chinese.
Here are the five most useful ones, the ones that will make a difference fastest.
In this article:
- 对对对: Exactly, exactly
- 就是说: Exactly, that's what I mean
- 说真的: Honestly
- 其实: Actually, in fact
- 随便: Whatever you like
- How to practice them without sounding forced
1. 对对对 (Duì duì duì): Exactly, exactly
Type: Enthusiastic agreement · Register: Colloquial
A single 对 means "right" or "yes". But three in a row, 对对对, is something else: it's the most natural, energetic way to show you completely agree, that the other person has just said exactly what you were thinking.
It's the Chinese equivalent of "Exactly!", "That's it!" or "Totally!" said with genuine enthusiasm.
In conversation:
A: 北京的交通真的很复杂。(Traffic in Beijing is really complicated.)
B: 对对对，我也这么觉得！(Exactly, exactly! I think so too.)
A: 你是说这个方法不对？(Are you saying this method isn't right?)
B: 对对对，就是这个意思。(Exactly, exactly, that's what I mean.)
Why it works: In Chinese, affirmative answers are repeated to add intensity. The more you repeat it, the more enthusiastic you sound. 对对对 is just right for most conversations without overdoing it.
2. 就是说 (Jiùshì shuō): Exactly, that's what I mean
Type: Connector / rephraser · Register: Colloquial and semi-formal
Literal meaning: "that's what is said" / "that is to say"
就是说 does two different jobs depending on context. First: validating what someone just said, "that's exactly what I meant". Second: introducing a clarification or paraphrase, the equivalent of "I mean" or "in other words" in English.
As enthusiastic confirmation:
A: 你的意思是他没来？(So your point is he didn't come?)
B: 就是说！你终于明白了。(Exactly! You finally get it.)
As "I mean" / "in other words":
就是说，我们今天不去了。
Jiùshì shuō, wǒmen jīntiān bù qù le.
"I mean, we're not going today."
就是说你同意了？
Jiùshì shuō nǐ tóngyì le?
"So you mean you agree?"
Why it works: Using 就是说 to rephrase something you just said sounds exactly like native speakers when they want to make sure their message landed, or when they're processing what they just heard.
3. 说真的 (Shuō zhēn de): Honestly
Type: Sincerity marker · Register: Colloquial
Literal meaning: "speaking truly"
说真的 is the Chinese way of saying "to be honest" or "seriously". You use it to signal that what follows is your real, unfiltered opinion. It almost always starts a sentence and creates a small dramatic pause before you reveal something.
Examples:
说真的，这个菜不太好吃。
Shuō zhēn de, zhège cài bú tài hǎo chī.
"To be honest, this dish isn't very good."
说真的，我真的不知道该怎么办。
Shuō zhēn de, wǒ zhēn de bù zhīdào gāi zěnme bàn.
"Honestly, I really don't know what to do."
A: 你喜欢住在中国吗？(Do you like living in China?)
B: 说真的，挺难的，但也很有意思。(Honestly, it's hard, but it's also really interesting.)
Why it works: It adds authenticity and emotional weight to what you say. Native speakers instantly recognize it as a sign you're about to say something real, not the usual polite answer.
4. 其实 (Qíshí): Actually, in fact
Type: Gentle corrector / qualifier · Register: Colloquial and formal
其实 is one of the most frequent words in modern Chinese. It introduces a clarification, a gentle correction or a different point of view than expected. It doesn't contradict aggressively; it simply reframes the situation.
To correct an assumption:
A: 你不喜欢辣的吧？(You don't like spicy food, right?)
B: 其实我挺喜欢的。(Actually, I quite like it.)
To introduce something unexpected:
其实这件事没那么复杂。
Qíshí zhè jiàn shì méi nàme fùzá.
"Actually, this isn't that complicated."
To reveal the truth behind something:
其实我也不太确定。
Qíshí wǒ yě bú tài quèdìng.
"The truth is, I'm not too sure either."
Why it works: It sounds considerate and honest rather than confrontational. In Chinese culture, where social harmony matters a lot, 其实 lets you disagree or correct someone without creating tension.
5. 随便 (Suíbiàn): Whatever you like
Type: Expression of indifference / flexibility · Register: Very colloquial
Literal meaning: "follow convenience"
随便 is the go-to answer when you genuinely have no preference or want to let the other person decide. It's short, immediate and sounds completely natural. Keep in mind, though, that tone matters a lot: said calmly it's pure flexibility; said flatly it can sound uninterested or even annoyed.
When you have no preference:
A: 吃什么好？(What should we eat?)
B: 随便，你决定吧。(Whatever, you decide.)
Total flexibility:
A: 我们几点出发？(What time are we leaving?)
B: 随便，都行。(Whenever you like, any time works.)
In a blunter tone (watch the context):
随便你。(Suit yourself, lit. "as is convenient for you".)
Depending on how it's said, it can sound like "I don't care what you do".
Why it works: It shows you're easygoing and don't cling to your preferences, a highly valued quality in Chinese social dynamics. Just make sure you use it when you really have no preference, not as a way to avoid deciding.
How to Practice Them Without Sounding Forced
The most common mistake when learning phrases like these is using them all at once, or in situations where they don't fit: that's when it sounds forced.
The best method is simple: pick just one phrase a week. Use it deliberately every time a natural opportunity comes up. After a few days it stops feeling artificial and starts coming out on its own.
A suggested order to start with:
- 其实: the most versatile, covering the most situations
- 对对对: instantly recognizable and very easy to slip into conversation
- 随便: perfect any time someone asks your opinion about plans
- 说真的: add it when you want to emphasize something genuine
- 就是说: the most nuanced; bring it in once the others come naturally
Together, these five phrases take less than five minutes to study, but the effect on your spoken Chinese is out of all proportion. Native speakers don't just understand you; they start hearing you differently.
Want more phrases like these? Explore Chinese Flow's vocabulary resources and flashcards.