Confirming Plans in Mandarin: Saying "That Works for Me" and "Sounds Good"
Learn beginner Mandarin phrases to confirm or adjust plans during a negotiation, using 可以, 行, 没问题 and 好的, with pinyin and tone marks.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When you make plans in Mandarin, agreeing is not the same as accepting an invitation. Accepting an invitation often means saying yes to a person. Confirming a plan means agreeing to a time, place, or arrangement that both sides are still shaping. In this lesson you will learn short, natural Mandarin phrases such as 可以 (kěyǐ), 行 (xíng), 没问题 (méi wèntí), and 好的 (hǎo de). These let you say "That works for me" or "Sounds good" while keeping the conversation open for small changes. You will also learn how to ask a follow-up question so the plan becomes clear and final.
By the end, you can…
- confirm a proposed time or arrangement in Mandarin using 可以, 行, or 没问题.
- respond to a plan with 好的 or 好 and ask a simple follow-up question to finish the negotiation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
可以。
That works. / That's fine.
kěyǐ
A very common, neutral way to agree to a proposed time, place, or arrangement. It is softer than a strong yes and fits negotiation.
行。
Okay. / That works.
xíng
Short and casual. Use it with friends, classmates, or people you know well. It confirms the plan, not the person.
没问题。
No problem.
méi wèntí
Shows the plan is easy for you to accept. It often answers a proposal that includes a request or a small change.
好的。
Okay. / Sounds good.
hǎo de
Polite and friendly. It works in many situations, including with people you have just met.
七点可以吗？
Is seven o'clock okay?
qī diǎn kěyǐ ma
A useful follow-up question. It checks one detail and keeps the negotiation moving.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
A simple confirmation pattern is: time or place + 可以吗？ (kěyǐ ma). For example, 七点可以吗？ (qī diǎn kěyǐ ma) means "Is seven o'clock okay?" You can answer with 可以 (kěyǐ), 行 (xíng), or 没问题 (méi wèntí). If you want to be more polite, say 我可以 (wǒ kěyǐ), meaning "I can" or "That works for me." Another useful pattern is 好的，没问题 (hǎo de, méi wèntí), which means "Okay, no problem." These phrases confirm the arrangement, not just the invitation.
When to use it
Use 可以 (kěyǐ) when someone suggests a time, place, or method and you want to say it is acceptable. Use 行 (xíng) in casual conversation with friends. Use 没问题 (méi wèntí) when the plan is easy for you or when someone asks a small favor as part of the plan. Use 好的 (hǎo de) to sound polite and agreeable. After confirming, ask one clear question, such as 在哪儿？ (zài nǎr, "where?") or 几点？ (jǐ diǎn, "what time?"). This turns agreement into a finished plan.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
我们明天去看电影，好吗？
Let's go see a movie tomorrow, okay?wǒmen míngtiān qù kàn diànyǐng, hǎo ma好的。几点？
Okay. What time?hǎo de. jǐ diǎn七点可以吗？
Is seven o'clock okay?qī diǎn kěyǐ ma可以，没问题。
That works, no problem.kěyǐ, méi wèntíA little context goes a long way
In Mandarin, short confirmations like 行 (xíng) and 可以 (kěyǐ) are common and natural. They are not rude, but they are casual. With a teacher, an older person, or someone you do not know well, 好的 (hǎo de) or 可以 (kěyǐ) is usually safer. A direct "no" can feel abrupt, so speakers often soften it with 可能 (kěnéng, "maybe") or suggest another time.
One thing to watch for
Using 可以吗？ (kěyǐ ma) to mean "Can I?" when you want to confirm a plan.
Try this instead: 可以吗？ (kěyǐ ma) usually asks whether something is acceptable, as in 七点可以吗？ (qī diǎn kěyǐ ma, "Is seven o'clock okay?"). To ask for permission, use 我可以去吗？ (wǒ kěyǐ qù ma, "Can I go?"). The word order changes the meaning.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Your friend says 我们六点吃饭，好吗？ (wǒmen liù diǎn chī fàn, hǎo ma). Give one natural confirmation.
Show a sample answer
好的，可以。
好的 (hǎo de) is polite and friendly, and 可以 (kěyǐ) confirms the time. 行 (xíng) or 没问题 (méi wèntí) would also work in casual conversation.
2You want to check if 8 o'clock works. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
八点可以吗？
This uses time + 可以吗？ (kěyǐ ma) to ask if 8 o'clock is acceptable. 八点行吗？ (bā diǎn xíng ma) is also natural in casual speech.
3Someone proposes a plan that is easy for you. Which phrase clearly says "No problem"?
Show a sample answer
没问题。
没问题 (méi wèntí) means "no problem" and confirms that the plan is fine for you. 可以 (kěyǐ) is also correct, but it is more neutral.
Use 可以, 行, 没问题, or 好的 to confirm a plan, then ask one clear follow-up question like 几点？ or 在哪儿？ to finish the negotiation.
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