Chinese · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 2 of 12
Opinions and reasons
我的看法Wǒ de kànfǎ
Give your opinion in Chinese with 我觉得 and 我认为, weigh up both sides with 虽然…但是…, and agree or disagree politely.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Give an opinion with 我觉得, 我认为 and 在我看来
- Weigh up two sides with 虽然…但是… and 不过
- Say what matters for someone with 对…来说
- Agree and disagree politely, and say what someone had better do
Listen
In Wuhan, final-year students Ma Yue and Qin Hao talk about her choice: a job in Shanghai or going home to Yichang. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Qin Hao
马跃，你决定了吗？去上海还是回宜昌？
Mǎ Yuè, nǐ juédìng le ma? Qù Shànghǎi háishi huí Yíchāng?
Ma Yue, have you decided? Shanghai, or back to Yichang?
Ma Yue
还没有。上海那个工作工资高，机会也多。不过我妈妈想让我回去。
Hái méiyǒu. Shànghǎi nàge gōngzuò gōngzī gāo, jīhuì yě duō. Búguò wǒ māma xiǎng ràng wǒ huíqu.
Not yet. The job in Shanghai pays well and there are more opportunities. But my mum wants me to come back.
Qin Hao
我觉得你应该去上海。年轻的时候应该多试试。
Wǒ juéde nǐ yīnggāi qù Shànghǎi. Niánqīng de shíhou yīnggāi duō shìshi.
I think you should go to Shanghai. You should try lots of things while you're young.
Ma Yue
你说得对，不过上海的压力太大了，房租也贵。
Nǐ shuō de duì, búguò Shànghǎi de yālì tài dà le, fángzū yě guì.
You're right, but there's so much pressure in Shanghai, and the rent is expensive too.
Qin Hao
虽然压力大，但是工资也高啊。对年轻人来说，机会最重要。
Suīrán yālì dà, dànshì gōngzī yě gāo a. Duì niánqīngrén lái shuō, jīhuì zuì zhòngyào.
The pressure is high, but so is the pay. For young people, opportunities matter most.
Ma Yue
我不太同意。在我看来，工作稳定更重要。在宜昌我可以住在家里，也能常常见到爸妈。
Wǒ bú tài tóngyì. Zài wǒ kànlái, gōngzuò wěndìng gèng zhòngyào. Zài Yíchāng wǒ kěyǐ zhù zài jiā li, yě néng chángcháng jiàndào bàmā.
I don't really agree. In my view, a stable job matters more. In Yichang I could live at home and see my parents often.
Qin Hao
宜昌的那个工作怎么样？稳定吗？
Yíchāng de nàge gōngzuò zěnmeyàng? Wěndìng ma?
What's the job in Yichang like? Is it stable?
Ma Yue
在银行工作，很稳定，但是工资比上海少多了。
Zài yínháng gōngzuò, hěn wěndìng, dànshì gōngzī bǐ Shànghǎi shǎo duō le.
It's at a bank, very stable, but the pay is much lower than in Shanghai.
Qin Hao
其实我认为钱不是最重要的。你更喜欢哪个工作？
Qíshí wǒ rènwéi qián bú shì zuì zhòngyào de. Nǐ gèng xǐhuan nǎge gōngzuò?
Actually, I don't think money is the most important thing. Which job do you like better?
Ma Yue
我更喜欢上海的工作，但是我也得考虑我爸妈。
Wǒ gèng xǐhuan Shànghǎi de gōngzuò, dànshì wǒ yě děi kǎolǜ wǒ bàmā.
I prefer the job in Shanghai, but I also have to think about my parents.
Qin Hao
这是你的选择。要不你先去上海工作两年，然后再决定？
Zhè shì nǐ de xuǎnzé. Yàobù nǐ xiān qù Shànghǎi gōngzuò liǎng nián, ránhòu zài juédìng?
It's your choice. How about working in Shanghai for two years first, and then deciding?
Ma Yue
你说得对。那我还是先去上海吧。今天晚上我给我妈妈打个电话。
Nǐ shuō de duì. Nà wǒ háishi xiān qù Shànghǎi ba. Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ gěi wǒ māma dǎ ge diànhuà.
You're right. Then I'd better go to Shanghai first. I'll call my mum this evening.
Understand
I think: 觉得, 认为, 在我看来
You know (wǒ juéde), I think, I feel: the everyday way to give an opinion. (wǒ rènwéi) means “I believe, I'm of the opinion” and sounds a little more serious and thought-through. (zài wǒ kànlái), in my view, goes at the start of the sentence.
To say “I don't think…”, Chinese usually puts (bù) in the second part: (wǒ juéde bú guì), I don't think it's expensive. (wǒ bú rènwéi …) is also possible, but it sounds more formal and direct.
(duì … lái shuō) means “for someone, from someone's point of view”: (duì wǒ lái shuō, jiārén zuì zhòngyào), for me, family is the most important thing. (zhòngyào) means “important”.
- 我认为这个选择是对的。Wǒ rènwéi zhège xuǎnzé shì duì de.I believe this is the right choice.
- 在我看来，工资不是最重要的。Zài wǒ kànlái, gōngzī bú shì zuì zhòngyào de.In my view, pay isn't the most important thing.
- 对学生来说，这个价格有点儿贵。Duì xuésheng lái shuō, zhège jiàgé yǒudiǎnr guì.For students, this price is a bit expensive.
虽然…但是…: although
English says “Although the pressure is high, the pay is good” with one linking word. Chinese marks both halves: (suīrán) in the first half and (dànshì) or (kěshì) in the second: (suīrán yālì dà, dànshì gōngzī yě gāo). (suīrán) can go before or after the subject: (wǒ suīrán xǐhuan Shànghǎi, dànshì …).
In speech people often drop (suīrán) and just say (búguò) or (dànshì): (gōngzī gāo, búguò yālì yě dà), the pay is good, but the pressure is high too. (búguò) is a little softer than (dànshì).
(qíshí), actually, in fact, introduces what you really think, often something the other person doesn't expect: (qíshí wǒ rènwéi qián bú shì zuì zhòngyào de).
Agreeing and disagreeing politely
Chinese speakers rarely say a blunt (bú duì), wrong. It's more polite to agree with part of what the other person said first, then add your point with (búguò). (bú tài) makes a “no” gentler: (wǒ bú tài tóngyì), I don't really agree.
(háishi … ba) means “had better, it would be best to” after thinking about the choices: (wǒ háishi xiān qù Shànghǎi ba), I'd better go to Shanghai first.
| Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (Wǒ tóngyì.) | I agree. |
| (Nǐ shuō de duì.) | You're right. |
| (Nǐ shuō de duì, búguò …) | You're right, but… |
| (Wǒ bú tài tóngyì.) | I don't really agree. |
| (Wǒ bú zhème rènwéi.) | I don't see it that way. |
| (Nǐ háishi … ba.) | You'd better… |
More in the grammar: Joining sentences: connectors
New words
- 决定juédìngto decide; decision · (zuò juédìng), to make a decision
- 工资gōngzīpay, salary · (gōngzī gāo), well paid
- 机会jīhuìopportunity, chance
- 压力yālìpressure, stress · (yālì hěn dà), there's a lot of pressure
- 虽然suīránalthough · with (dànshì) or (kěshì) in the second half
- 但是dànshìbut
- 对…来说duì … lái shuōfor (someone), as far as (someone) is concerned
- 同意tóngyìto agree
- 稳定wěndìngstable, steady
- 其实qíshíactually, in fact
- 认为rènwéito believe, to think (an opinion)
- 考虑kǎolǜto think about, to consider · (wǒ kǎolǜ yíxià), let me think about it
- 选择xuǎnzéchoice; to choose
- 看法kànfǎopinion, view · (Nǐ de kànfǎ ne?), what's your view?
Practise
1.Which sentence means “Although the flat is small, it's very convenient”?
2.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.For me, family is the most important thing.
3.Match the Chinese with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
4.Your colleague says a new plan is great. You see a problem. What is the most polite reply?
5.What does (wǒ háishi zài jiā chī ba) mean?
0 of 5 exercises done.
Say it out loud
你的看法呢？
Nǐ de kànfǎ ne?
What's your view?
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.