Chinese for Hesitation: Using 嗯, 这个, and 我不太确定 to Stall Politely
Learn to express hesitation in Mandarin with fillers like 嗯 (ng) and 这个 (zhège), and the phrase 我不太确定 (wǒ bú tài quèdìng). Practice a natural dialogue and avoid common mistakes.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Hesitation is a key conversation skill: it signals that you are thinking, not that you are certain or doubtful. In Mandarin, hesitation is often expressed with fillers such as 嗯 (ng) and 这个 (zhège), and with softened phrases like 我不太确定 (wǒ bú tài quèdìng). Unlike a plain 'I don't know', these keep the conversation open. This lesson teaches you to pause, buy time, and respond politely without committing. You will learn five phrases, see them in a dialogue, and practice choosing the right level of hesitation.
By the end, you can…
- use 嗯 and 这个 to hesitate naturally in Mandarin.
- say 我不太确定 to show I am not sure without ending the conversation.
- ask for more time with 让我想想 and 再说吧.
- distinguish hesitation from certainty and doubt in simple replies.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
嗯……
Um... / Hmm...
ng... (a syllabic nasal with no vowel; the tone varies with context, often a low or neutral tone)
A filler used when you need a moment to think. It is very common in casual speech and can be lengthened.
这个……
Well... / This...
zhè ge... (zhè like 'juh' with a buzzing j; ge like 'guh' with a neutral tone)
Literally 'this', but often used as a hesitation filler meaning 'well' or 'um'. It softens the start of a reply.
我不太确定。
I'm not quite sure.
wǒ bú tài quèdìng (wǒ like 'waw'; bú like 'boo'; tài like 'tie'; quèdìng like 'chweh-ding')
A polite way to say you are unsure. Softer than 我不知道 (wǒ bù zhīdào, 'I don't know').
让我想想。
Let me think.
ràng wǒ xiǎngxiang (ràng like 'rahng'; xiǎng like 'shyahng'; the second xiang is neutral)
Used to ask for a short pause. It signals that you are considering the question, not refusing to answer.
再说吧。
Let's talk about it later. / We'll see.
zài shuō ba (zài like 'dzai'; shuō like 'shwaw'; ba like 'bah' with a neutral tone)
A gentle way to postpone a decision. It can sound like hesitation or polite avoidance, depending on tone.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Hesitation often starts with a filler, then a softener. Pattern: 嗯…… + 这个…… + 我不太确定。 For example: 嗯……这个……我不太确定。 (Um... well... I'm not quite sure.) Another pattern uses 让我想想: 嗯……让我想想。 (Um... let me think.) You can also combine 这个 with a question: 这个……你觉得呢？ (Well... what do you think?) The filler buys time; the softener keeps the tone polite. Notice that 我不太确定 uses 不太 (bú tài, 'not quite') instead of 不 (bù, 'not'), which makes the statement less blunt. In fast speech, 这个 may reduce to 这个 (zhè ge) or even 这个 (zhèi ge) in northern China, but learners can safely use zhè ge.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you need to pause but do not want to sound rude or final. For example, if a friend asks 你明天有空吗？ (Nǐ míngtiān yǒu kòng ma? 'Are you free tomorrow?'), you can reply 嗯……我不太确定，让我想想。 (Um... I'm not quite sure, let me think.) If a colleague asks for a decision, 这个……再说吧。 (Well... let's talk later.) works as a soft delay. Avoid using 嗯 alone in formal writing; in speech it is fine. Also, 我不太确定 is not the same as 我怀疑 (wǒ huáiyí, 'I doubt')—it shows uncertainty, not suspicion. Use 让我想想 when you genuinely need time, not as a permanent avoidance.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你周末想去爬山吗？
Do you want to go hiking this weekend?Nǐ zhōumò xiǎng qù páshān ma?嗯……这个……我不太确定。让我想想。
Um... well... I'm not quite sure. Let me think.Ng... zhè ge... wǒ bú tài quèdìng. Ràng wǒ xiǎngxiang.没关系，你可以晚点告诉我。
That's fine, you can tell me later.Méi guānxi, nǐ kěyǐ wǎn diǎn gàosu wǒ.好，再说吧。
Okay, let's talk about it later.Hǎo, zài shuō ba.A little context goes a long way
In Mandarin conversation, hesitation fillers like 嗯 and 这个 are common and generally neutral. However, 再说吧 can sound like a polite refusal if said with a falling tone, especially in formal contexts. With friends, it usually means a genuine delay. If you are unsure in a professional setting, 我不太确定 followed by 我查一下 (wǒ chá yíxià, 'I'll check') sounds more responsible than 再说吧. Also, prolonged 嗯 without words may seem evasive; pair it with a clear next step.
One thing to watch for
Using 我不知道 (wǒ bù zhīdào) as a direct translation of 'I'm not sure' in every situation.
Try this instead: 我不知道 means 'I don't know' and can sound blunt. For hesitation, use 我不太确定 (wǒ bú tài quèdìng) or 我不太清楚 (wǒ bú tài qīngchu). Example: 嗯……我不太确定，让我想想。 (Um... I'm not quite sure, let me think.) This keeps the conversation open and polite.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Your friend asks if you like a certain movie. You want to hesitate before answering. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
嗯……这个……我不太确定。
This uses a filler (嗯), a hesitation word (这个), and a softener (我不太确定). Other valid answers include 嗯……让我想想。 or 这个……再说吧。 depending on whether you need time or want to postpone.
2What is the difference between 我不太确定 and 我不知道?
Show a sample answer
我不太确定 means 'I'm not quite sure' and is softer; 我不知道 means 'I don't know' and can sound more direct.
我不太确定 uses 不太 to reduce certainty without closing the topic. 我不知道 is a plain statement of lack of knowledge. In polite conversation, 我不太确定 is usually better for hesitation.
3Translate into Mandarin: 'Well... let me think.'
Show a sample answer
这个……让我想想。
这个 acts as 'well' or 'um', and 让我想想 means 'let me think'. You could also say 嗯……让我想想。 Both are correct; 这个 is slightly more conversational.
Hesitation in Mandarin is built from fillers like 嗯 and 这个 plus softeners like 我不太确定 and 让我想想. Use them to pause politely, not to end the conversation.
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