慢点
màndiǎn
In Chinese, 'slow down' is translated as 慢点 (màndiǎn).
慢点 is used to tell someone to decelerate, but it is also frequently used as a cautionary command telling someone to move more carefully or to act less hastily (to 'take it easy').
Meaning: (''intransitive'') to decelerate (verb)
Which one should you use?
While 慢点 is a general way to say 'Slow down', the more formal expression 请放慢速度 is used when specifically asking to 'Please slow down the speed.' In Cantonese, you can use 慢啲 for 'Slow down' or the more colloquial 慢少少 to mean 'Slow down a little.'
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese-speaking regions, 慢啲 or 慢少少 are used.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Northern China, you may frequently encounter the form 慢点儿, which adds the 'er' suffix to the end of the phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
màndiǎn
When do people say it?
When seeing guests off at a door, instead of telling them to 'slow down' their physical movement, it is customary to use the polite parting phrase 慢走, which means 'walk slowly' or 'take care.'
Did you know?
- If you tell someone to 慢点 while they are eating, you are not telling them to chew more slowly, but rather to 'take it easy' and not rush through the meal.
- When used as a safety warning near a ledge, 慢点 functions more like the English word 'careful' than a request to decelerate.
- The phrase 慢点 is frequently used as a metaphor to tell an impetuous person to calm down.
Examples in context
- 慢点！放慢点速度Slow down! Reduce your speed.
- 请放慢速度！讲清楚Please slow down! Speak clearly.
- 请悠着点，慢慢享受Please take it easy and enjoy slowly.
- 慢点，别跑那么快。Màn diǎn, bié pǎo nàme kuài.Slow down, don't run so fast.
- 走路慢点，小心地滑。Zǒulù màn diǎn, xiǎoxīn dì huá.Walk slower, be careful of the slippery floor.
Example conversation
Jia Yi is walking through a crowded park with Zhi Qiang.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，你走得太快了。Zhìqiáng, nǐ zǒu de tài kuài le.Zhi Qiang, you are walking too fast.
- 志强 Zhiqiang对不起，我会慢点。Duìbuqǐ, wǒ huì màn diǎn.Sorry, I will slow down.
- 佳怡 Jiayi慢点走，别把我甩在后面。Màn diǎn zǒu, bié bǎ wǒ shuǎi zài hòumiàn.Slow down, don't leave me behind.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好，我们现在慢慢走。Hǎo, wǒmen xiànzài mànmàn zǒu.Okay, let's walk slowly now.
