Asking for More Explanation in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to ask a Mandarin speaker to elaborate, clarify or go deeper, using 详细, 具体, 意思 and 举个例子, so you can move past a simple answer and reach real understanding.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you study Mandarin, the most useful sentence you can own is not a vocabulary item but a request: 'Could you say more about that?' A short answer like 可以 ('it's fine') or 差不多 ('more or less') often hides the detail you actually need. This lesson teaches you to ask for elaboration without asking for repetition. You will learn 详细 (xiángxì, 'detailed'), 具体 (jùtǐ, 'specific'), 意思 (yìsi, 'meaning'), 举个例子 (jǔ ge lìzi, 'give an example') and 也就是说 (yě jiù shì shuō, 'in other words'). These let you push a conversation from a one-line reply to a full explanation, politely and naturally.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone to explain something in more detail using 详细 and 具体
- ask what a word or idea means with 意思 and 也就是说
- request a concrete example with 举个例子 and keep the conversation going
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
你能说得详细一点吗？
Could you say that in a bit more detail?
Nǐ néng shuō de xiángxì yìdiǎn ma?
The standard polite request for elaboration. 一点 softens it; drop 吗 and use a falling tone for a more direct request among friends.
能再具体说说吗？
Could you be more specific?
Néng zài jùtǐ shuōshuo ma?
再 ('again/further') plus the repeated verb 说说 makes the request sound casual and friendly, not demanding.
这是什么意思？
What does this mean?
Zhè shì shénme yìsi?
Use for a word, phrase or situation you do not understand. 意思 covers 'meaning' and 'intention', so context decides the sense.
也就是说……？
So, in other words...?
Yě jiù shì shuō...?
A trailing prompt: you repeat your understanding and let the speaker confirm or correct it. Very common in real conversation.
能举个例子吗？
Could you give an example?
Néng jǔ ge lìzi ma?
Ask this when an explanation stays abstract. 举个例子 (jǔ ge lìzi) is the shorter, more spoken version.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 能……吗？ (Néng... ma?), 'Can you...?', followed by a verb phrase: 能说得详细一点吗？ (Néng shuō de xiángxì yìdiǎn ma?), 能再具体说说吗？ (Néng zài jùtǐ shuōshuo ma?), 能举个例子吗？ (Néng jǔ ge lìzi ma?). The particle 得 (de) links a verb to its result or manner: 说得详细 means 'speak in a detailed way'. Adding 一点 (yìdiǎn, 'a little') or 再 (zài, 'further') keeps the tone gentle. To check your own understanding, use 也就是说 (yě jiù shì shuō) plus your paraphrase, then pause for confirmation.
When to use it
Use 详细 when an answer is too short: 这个规则能说得详细一点吗？ (Zhège guīzé néng shuō de xiángxì yìdiǎn ma?, 'Could you explain this rule in more detail?'). Use 具体 when the answer is vague and you need specifics: 具体是哪一天？ (Jùtǐ shì nǎ yì tiān?, 'Which day exactly?'). Use 意思 when a word or sentence is unclear: 这个词是什么意思？ (Zhège cí shì shénme yìsi?). Use 举个例子 when you need a real case. Mixing them is natural: 能说得具体一点，举个例子吗？ (Néng shuō de jùtǐ yìdiǎn, jǔ ge lìzi ma?) is a perfectly normal, polite request.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
这个语法点我还没完全明白，你能说得详细一点吗？
I still don't fully understand this grammar point. Could you explain it in more detail?Zhège yǔfǎ diǎn wǒ hái méi wánquán míngbai, nǐ néng shuō de xiángxì yìdiǎn ma?当然可以。它表示动作已经完成，比如“我吃了饭”。
Of course. It shows an action is already completed, for example, 'I ate.'Dāngrán kěyǐ. Tā biǎoshì dòngzuò yǐjīng wánchéng, bǐrú 'wǒ chī le fàn'.也就是说，重点在“了”这个字，对吗？能再举个例子吗？
So, in other words, the key is the character 了, right? Could you give another example?Yě jiù shì shuō, zhòngdiǎn zài 'le' zhège zì, duì ma? Néng zài jǔ ge lìzi ma?对。比如“他来了”，意思是“他已经到了”。
Right. For example, 'tā lái le', which means 'he has already arrived'.Duì. Bǐrú 'tā lái le', yìsi shì 'tā yǐjīng dào le'.A little context goes a long way
Direct questions are normal in Mandarin lessons, but tone matters. Adding 一点, 再 or 吗 keeps a request collaborative rather than challenging. With teachers and elders, 您 (nín) replaces 你, and 请问 (qǐngwèn, 'may I ask') can open the question. Among close friends, 说说呗 (shuōshuo bei) is relaxed and affectionate. Avoid repeating the same request three times in a row; instead, paraphrase what you understood and ask for confirmation.
One thing to watch for
Learners often say 你能再说吗？ (Nǐ néng zài shuō ma?) to mean 'Could you elaborate?'
Try this instead: 再说 alone means 'say it again' or 'talk later', so it asks for repetition, not depth. For elaboration say 你能说得详细一点吗？ (Nǐ néng shuō de xiángxì yìdiǎn ma?) or 能再具体说说吗？ (Néng zài jùtǐ shuōshuo ma?). If you truly need a repeat, use 你能再说一遍吗？ (Nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma?).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You understand the general idea but need concrete details. Which phrase fits best?
Show a sample answer
能再具体说说吗？
具体 targets specifics rather than length, so it fits when the answer is vague. 详细一点 also works if you simply want more depth, but 具体 is more precise here.
2A friend uses a word you have never seen. Ask what it means.
Show a sample answer
这个词是什么意思？
意思 asks for meaning and works for words, phrases and situations. 这个词是什么？ would ask what the word is, not what it means.
3You think you understand and want to confirm. What sentence pattern do you use?
Show a sample answer
也就是说……，对吗？
也就是说 introduces your paraphrase, and 对吗 invites confirmation. 对不对？ or 是不是？ are also acceptable in casual speech.
To go deeper in Mandarin, ask with 能……吗？ plus 详细一点, 具体说说 or 举个例子, and check your understanding with 也就是说. These keep you learning instead of guessing.
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