How to Say "I'll Take That On Board" in Mandarin Chinese: Receiving Criticism Calmly
Learn Mandarin phrases for accepting negative feedback without arguing or losing composure, using 我会考虑 (wǒ huì kǎolǜ), 我记下了 (wǒ jì xià le) and other calm, professional responses.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When someone criticises your work, the hardest part is not understanding the words; it is staying calm while you answer. English speakers often reach for "I'll take that on board" or "I'll bear that in mind", which acknowledge the message without promising to agree. Mandarin has no single idiom that matches this exactly, so you need a small set of phrases that show you have heard the criticism and will think about it. This lesson teaches those phrases, the tone that makes them sound sincere rather than dismissive, and the difference between accepting feedback and managing your own reaction to it.
By the end, you can…
- acknowledge negative feedback in Mandarin without agreeing or arguing
- use 我会考虑 and 我记下了 to sound calm and professional
- keep my tone neutral when I feel criticised
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
谢谢你的反馈，我会考虑一下。
Thank you for the feedback, I'll think about it.
Xièxie nǐ de fǎnkuì, wǒ huì kǎolǜ yíxià.
The safest general response to criticism from a colleague or manager. 考虑 (kǎolǜ) means to consider seriously, so it does not sound like a brush-off.
我记下了，谢谢你告诉我。
I've noted that down, thank you for telling me.
Wǒ jì xià le, xièxie nǐ gàosu wǒ.
Use when the feedback is specific and factual, for example a mistake in a report. 记下 (jì xià) means to write down or note mentally.
你说得有道理，我再想想。
What you say makes sense, I'll think about it more.
Nǐ shuō de yǒu dàolǐ, wǒ zài xiǎngxiang.
A softer acknowledgement. 有道理 (yǒu dàolǐ) means reasonable, so it signals partial agreement without full commitment.
我明白你的意思，让我消化一下。
I understand what you mean, let me digest it.
Wǒ míngbai nǐ de yìsi, ràng wǒ xiāohuà yíxià.
Useful when the criticism is heavy or emotional. 消化 (xiāohuà), literally to digest, is common in modern workplace Mandarin for processing information.
这个我需要时间想一想，回头再回复你。
I need time to think about this, I'll get back to you later.
Zhège wǒ xūyào shíjiān xiǎng yi xiǎng, huítóu zài huífù nǐ.
Buys you time politely. 回头 (huítóu) means later or another time and softens the delay.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 我会 + verb + 一下 (wǒ huì + verb + yíxià). 一下 softens the verb, so 我会考虑一下 (wǒ huì kǎolǜ yíxià) sounds like "I'll give it some thought" rather than a cold promise. You can swap the verb: 我会看一下 (wǒ huì kàn yíxià, I'll take a look), 我会改一下 (wǒ huì gǎi yíxià, I'll make some changes). Adding 谢谢 (xièxie) at the start keeps the tone warm, and adding 但是 (dànshì, but) too early turns the sentence into an argument.
When to use it
Use these phrases when the feedback is negative but you are not ready to agree or disagree. In a meeting, 我记下了 (wǒ jì xià le) is short and safe. In a one-to-one conversation, 谢谢你的反馈，我会考虑一下 (xièxie nǐ de fǎnkuì, wǒ huì kǎolǜ yíxià) gives you breathing room. If the other person is upset, 让我消化一下 (ràng wǒ xiāohuà yíxià) signals that you are managing your emotions, not dismissing them. Avoid 随便 (suíbiàn, whatever) or silence, which read as indifference.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你这个报告写得有点仓促，数据也不够准确。
This report of yours was written a bit hastily, and the data isn't accurate enough.Nǐ zhège bàogào xiě de yǒudiǎn cāngcù, shùjù yě bú gòu zhǔnquè.谢谢你的反馈，我记下了。我会重新检查一遍数据。
Thank you for the feedback, I've noted it. I'll go through the data again.Xièxie nǐ de fǎnkuì, wǒ jì xià le. Wǒ huì chóngxīn jiǎnchá yí biàn shùjù.还有，下次开会前最好先跟大家确认一下。
Also, next time it would be best to check with everyone before the meeting.Hái yǒu, xià cì kāihuì qián zuìhǎo xiān gēn dàjiā quèrèn yíxià.我明白你的意思，让我消化一下，回头再跟你聊。
I understand what you mean, let me digest it, and I'll talk with you later.Wǒ míngbai nǐ de yìsi, ràng wǒ xiāohuà yíxià, huítóu zài gēn nǐ liáo.A little context goes a long way
In many mainland workplaces, direct criticism from a manager is normal and is not necessarily personal. A calm 我记下了 or 我会考虑一下 is usually enough; long explanations can look defensive. With friends or family, 你说得有道理，我再想想 feels warmer and less formal. In Taiwan and some southern regions, people may soften criticism with 可能 (kěnéng, maybe) or 一点点 (yìdiǎndiǎn, a little), so match their level of indirectness.
One thing to watch for
Saying 我同意 (wǒ tóngyì, I agree) just to end the conversation, even when you disagree.
Try this instead: Use 我会考虑一下 (wǒ huì kǎolǜ yíxià) or 我记下了 (wǒ jì xià le) instead. These acknowledge the feedback without committing you to agreement, so you stay honest and calm.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Your manager says your presentation was too long. Give a calm one-sentence reply in Mandarin.
Show a sample answer
谢谢你的反馈，我会考虑一下。
This thanks the speaker and promises consideration without arguing. 我记下了 would also work if the point is clearly factual.
2A colleague criticises you sharply and you feel upset. What can you say to buy time?
Show a sample answer
我明白你的意思，让我消化一下。
消化一下 signals that you are processing the criticism emotionally. 这个我需要时间想一想 is another valid option.
3Translate: "What you say makes sense, I'll think about it more."
Show a sample answer
你说得有道理，我再想想。
有道理 acknowledges the point partially, and 再想想 keeps your options open. 我会再考虑一下 is a slightly more formal alternative.
Stay calm, thank the person, and use 我会考虑一下 or 我记下了 to show you have heard the feedback without promising to agree.
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