让我告诉你
rang wo gao su ni
The English phrase "let me tell you" is translated into Chinese as 让我告诉你 (rang wo gao su ni).
This phrase is used to introduce a piece of information or a story to someone. To specify the subject matter you are sharing, you can append the object immediately after the phrase, such as in 让我告诉你这件事 (let me tell you this matter).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of three parts: 让我 (let me), 告诉 (tell) and 你 (you).
Which one should you use?
In many conversational contexts, the word for 'let' (让) is dropped and the phrase is shortened to 我告诉你 to introduce a point or a warning. While 让我告诉你 is a direct translation, you may also encounter shorter variations like 听我说 (Listen to me) or 这个你听着 (Listen to this) in casual conversations.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The use of 你 (ni) in 让我告诉你 makes this phrase neutral or informal. For formal settings where you want to say "Please listen to what I'm about to say", you can use 请听我说.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify what you are telling someone, you can append the subject matter immediately after the phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
rang wo gao su ni
Did you know?
- The word for 'tell' 告诉 contains the character 告, which in ancient Chinese specifically referred to making a formal report to a superior or a legal announcement.
- The character 让 in 让我告诉你 also means 'to yield' or 'to give way', reflecting a linguistic logic where the speaker is asking for a 'space' in the conversation to speak.
- In many casual contexts, the phrase 'let me tell you' is actually used to start a warning or a lecture rather than just sharing information. Using 我告诉你 (I tell you) can signal to the listener that a piece of unsolicited advice or a stern reprimand is coming.
Examples in context
- 让我告诉你一个好消息。Ràng wǒ gàosù nǐ yīgè hǎo xiāoxī.Let me tell you some good news.
Example conversation
Xiaowen is sharing a secret with Junjie.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen让我告诉你一个秘密。Ràng wǒ gàosù nǐ yīgè mìmì.Let me tell you a secret.
- 俊杰 Junjie真的吗？快告诉我！Zhēn de ma? Kuài gàosù wǒ!Really? Tell me quickly!
- 晓雯 Xiaowen他其实喜欢你。Tā qíshí xǐhuān nǐ.He actually likes you.
- 俊杰 Junjie你在开玩笑吧！Nǐ zài kāiwánxiào ba!You must be joking!
