Chinese Confirmation Phrases: "So You're Saying That..." in Mandarin
Learn intermediate Mandarin phrases to confirm you understood someone: 所以你的意思是…, 我理解得对吗, 也就是说…, 你是说…吗, and 我没理解错的话. Practice with a natural dialogue and targeted exercises.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you listen to Mandarin, the risk isn't only missing words; it's misunderstanding the speaker's point. This lesson teaches a tight set of confirmation phrases that let you check your understanding without derailing the conversation. You'll learn how to summarize what you heard, ask whether your summary is correct, and invite a quick yes/no confirmation. The focus is confirmation, not asking for clarification of unknown words. You'll practice patterns like 所以你的意思是… (so you're saying that...), 我理解得对吗 (did I understand correctly?), and 也就是说… (in other words...). These are common in meetings, classes, and everyday planning. Pay attention to tone and politeness: adding 请问 or 我想确认一下 softens the check. The dialogue shows how to confirm a plan and a request naturally. By the end, you'll be able to restate someone's meaning and get a clear confirmation in Mandarin.
By the end, you can…
- restate what someone said in Mandarin using 所以你的意思是… and 也就是说….
- ask for confirmation with 我理解得对吗 and 你是说…吗.
- use 我没理解错的话 to confirm a negative or conditional point politely.
- respond to a confirmation check with 对，没错 or 不完全对 and adjust.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
所以你的意思是……
So you're saying that...
suǒ yǐ nǐ de yì si shì...
Use to summarize the speaker's point before confirming. It introduces a restatement, not a new question. Often followed by a full clause: 所以你的意思是我们可以晚点交，对吗？
我理解得对吗？
Did I understand correctly?
wǒ lǐ jiě de duì ma?
A direct but polite check after you restate. It asks about the accuracy of your understanding, not about the speaker's clarity. Use with a rising question intonation.
也就是说……
In other words... / That is to say...
yě jiù shì shuō...
Use to rephrase the same idea more simply. It signals you are drawing an inference. Example: 也就是说，我们不用今天决定。
你是说……吗？
Are you saying that...?
nǐ shì shuō... ma?
Use when you want to confirm a specific detail or implication. It can sound slightly surprised, so keep your tone neutral in formal settings. Example: 你是说会议改到周五吗？
我没理解错的话，……
If I haven't misunderstood, ...
wǒ méi lǐ jiě cuò de huà,...
A softer, more tentative confirmation. Use when you are fairly sure but want to avoid sounding pushy. Example: 我没理解错的话，这个方案已经通过了。
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is: restatement + confirmation tag. In Mandarin, you can put the restatement first, then add 对吗？ or 是不是？ at the end. For example: 所以你的意思是下周一开始，对吗？ (So you mean it starts next Monday, right?) Another pattern uses 也就是说 to rephrase: 也就是说，我们不用再改了，是吗？ (In other words, we don't need to change it again, right?) Notice that 对吗 and 是吗 are interchangeable in many contexts, but 对吗 often checks factual accuracy, while 是吗 checks whether the speaker agrees with your inference. Keep the restatement short; if it is too long, the listener may lose the thread.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you have heard something important and want to lock in the meaning before acting. They are especially useful in meetings, when receiving instructions, and when making plans with friends. For example, after a colleague explains a deadline, you can say: 所以你的意思是周五之前要交，对吗？ If the answer is 对，没错, you can proceed. If the answer is 不完全对, ask a focused follow-up like 那是周几？ Avoid using these phrases when you simply didn't hear a word; in that case, ask 你刚才说什么时候？ instead. Confirmation checks are about meaning, not volume or vocabulary.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
下周三的会改到周五下午三点，地点还是老地方。
Next Wednesday's meeting is moved to Friday at 3 p.m., same place as before.xià zhōu sān de huì gǎi dào zhōu wǔ xià wǔ sān diǎn, dì diǎn hái shì lǎo dì fang.所以你的意思是，会议改到周五下午三点，地点不变，对吗？
So you're saying the meeting is moved to Friday at 3 p.m., and the place stays the same, right?suǒ yǐ nǐ de yì si shì, huì yì gǎi dào zhōu wǔ xià wǔ sān diǎn, dì diǎn bú biàn, duì ma?对，没错。不过周五的会议室可能不一样，我确认一下再告诉你。
Yes, that's right. But the meeting room on Friday might be different. I'll check and let you know.duì, méi cuò. bú guò zhōu wǔ de huì yì shì kě néng bù yí yàng, wǒ què rèn yí xià zài gào su nǐ.好，我没理解错的话，时间定了，地点待定。
Okay, if I haven't misunderstood, the time is set and the place is to be confirmed.hǎo, wǒ méi lǐ jiě cuò de huà, shí jiān dìng le, dì diǎn dài dìng.A little context goes a long way
In Mandarin conversation, confirmation checks are often softened with 请问, 我想确认一下, or 不好意思. Directly saying 你错了 can sound blunt; instead, restate and ask 我理解得对吗？ In formal settings, use 您 for the listener and keep your tone level. In casual talk among friends, 对吗？ and 是吧？ are common, but 是吧？ can sound more like seeking agreement than checking facts. Choose the phrase that matches your relationship and the stakes.
One thing to watch for
Using 你是说……吗？ to ask for the meaning of a word you didn't understand, e.g., 你是说“截止”吗？ when you don't know what 截止 means.
Try this instead: 你是说……吗？ confirms a specific detail or implication, not vocabulary. If you don't know a word, ask 请问“截止”是什么意思？ (Excuse me, what does 截止 mean?). To confirm meaning, restate the whole point: 所以你的意思是周五之前要交，对吗？
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Your colleague says: 这个报告不用今天交，明天下午五点前给我就行。 Restate and confirm in one sentence.
Show a sample answer
所以你的意思是，报告明天下午五点前交，对吗？
This restates the key detail (deadline) and adds 对吗 to confirm. 也就是说，报告明天下午五点前交，是吗？ is also correct, though 也就是说 sounds more like an inference.
2You think your friend means they can't come to dinner. Which phrase checks that inference politely?
Show a sample answer
你是说，你不能来吃晚饭吗？
你是说……吗？ checks a specific implication. 我没理解错的话，你不能来吃晚饭，对吗？ is also valid and sounds more tentative.
3Someone confirms your restatement with 对，没错. What does that tell you about your understanding?
Show a sample answer
It means your restatement was accurate, so you can proceed or respond to the content.
对，没错 is a clear confirmation. If the answer were 不完全对, you would need to ask a focused follow-up. Both responses are common; context decides which one you hear.
To confirm understanding in Mandarin, restate the key point briefly, then add 对吗？ or 是吗？. Use 所以你的意思是… for summaries, 也就是说… for rephrasing, and 我没理解错的话… for a softer check. Keep it short and polite.
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