听我说
tīng wǒ shuō
In Chinese, 'listen to me' is expressed as 听我说 (tīng wǒ shuō).
The phrase is used to ask someone to pay attention to what you are about to say. Without a polite particle like 请, the phrase can sound like an imperative or a command, often used when someone is being interrupted or when you are trying to assert authority.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 听 (listen), 我 (me) and 说 (to say/speak).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The neutral form 听我说 can sound like an imperative or a command. To make it a polite request, you can add 请 (please) to the beginning to say 请听我说. For a very formal emphasis on the importance of listening, you can use 请您注意听我说. In informal settings, you might use 听我说吧 or, during phone conversations, 喂，听我说.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make your request sound more natural and less blunt in many conversational contexts, you can add 句话 (a sentence/a word) after the phrase to say 听我说句话, which literally means 'listen to me say a word/sentence'.
How do you pronounce it?
tīng wǒ shuō
Did you know?
- The character 听 is a simplified version of 聽. In the traditional version, the character contains a component meaning 'heart', suggesting that true listening requires the heart and not just the ears.
- In Chinese, the word 听 used in 听我说 can also mean 'to obey'. Because of this, saying 听我的 instead of 听我说 transforms the request from 'listen to my words' to 'do as I say'.
- When someone says 听我说 in a heated argument, they may accompany it with a hand gesture where the palm faces the listener and moves slightly downward to signal a 'stop' or 'quiet' command.
Examples in context
- 您愿意听我说几分钟话吗？Will you listen to me for a few minutes?This sentence shows how to use 听我说 to ask if someone will listen for a few minutes.Tatoeba #363876 by fucongcong, translation #6088 by Zifre
- 你可以讲话，但也要听我说，我也有权发言。You can talk, but you need to listen to me, as well. I also have the right to speak.This sentence uses 听我说 to express the need for the listener to hear your side of a conversation.Tatoeba #2455768 by fenfang557, translation #2476391 by FeuDRenais2
- 请先听我说。Qǐng xiān tīng wǒ shuō.Please listen to me first.
Example conversation
A couple is having a calm discussion at home.
- 志强 Zhiqiang佳怡，请听我说。Jiāyí, qǐng tīng wǒ shuō.Jiayi, please listen to me.
- 佳怡 Jiayi我在听，你说吧。Wǒ zài tīng, nǐ shuō ba.I am listening, go ahead.
- 志强 Zhiqiang这件事其实没那么复杂。Zhè jiàn shì qíshí méi nàme fùzá.This matter is actually not that complicated.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那你慢慢说。Nà nǐ mànman shuō.Then tell me slowly.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
