Interrupting Politely in Chinese Meetings: Formal Phrases for Adding a Point
Learn formal Mandarin phrases to interrupt a meeting politely, such as 我可以补充一下吗？, with pinyin, usage notes, and a short workplace dialogue.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In a formal Chinese meeting, interrupting directly with 我来说一句 (wǒ lái shuō yī jù) can sound abrupt. Instead, skilled speakers first acknowledge the current speaker, then ask permission to add a point. This lesson teaches five formal interruption phrases, the pattern 我可以……吗？ (wǒ kěyǐ ... ma?), and how to return the floor politely. You will practice phrases suitable for meetings, reviews, and presentations. The focus is formal, professional interruptions, not casual conversation.
By the end, you can…
- politely ask permission to add a point in a formal Chinese meeting.
- acknowledge the previous speaker before interrupting.
- return the floor to the chair or previous speaker after my comment.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
不好意思，我可以补充一下吗？
Excuse me, may I add something?
bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ kěyǐ bǔchōng yīxià ma?
The most common formal interruption. 不好意思 softens the interruption; 补充一下 means 'add a brief point'. Use when the speaker has paused or finished a sentence.
请允许我插一句。
Please allow me to interject a word.
qǐng yǔnxǔ wǒ chā yī jù.
Very formal and slightly ceremonial. Suitable for senior colleagues, clients, or a chair who expects formal register. It signals you know you are interrupting.
我能不能在这里加一点？
Could I add a point here?
wǒ néng bu néng zài zhèlǐ jiā yī diǎn?
Softer and more consultative than 我可以补充一下吗？. The A-not-A form 能不能 makes the request sound tentative and respectful.
关于这一点，我想说明一下。
Regarding this point, I would like to clarify something.
guānyú zhè yī diǎn, wǒ xiǎng shuōmíng yīxià.
Use when you are not just adding but correcting or clarifying a specific point. It links your interruption to the current topic before you speak.
谢谢，我说完了。您继续。
Thank you, I have finished. Please continue.
xièxie, wǒ shuō wán le. nín jìxù.
Returns the floor politely after your comment. 您继续 is respectful and keeps the meeting moving; use 您 rather than 你 in formal settings.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 我可以……吗？ (wǒ kěyǐ ... ma?), meaning 'May I ...?'. Insert a verb phrase after 可以: 我可以补充一下吗？ (May I add something?), 我可以问一个问题吗？ (May I ask a question?), 我可以说明一下吗？ (May I clarify?). Adding 一下 (yīxià) after the verb softens the request, making it sound brief and low-pressure. For a more formal tone, replace 可以 with 能否 (néng fǒu), as in 我能否补充一下？ (May I add something?). In spoken meetings, 不好意思 or 打扰一下 often comes first: 不好意思，我可以补充一下吗？ This combination is polite and natural.
When to use it
Use these phrases when the speaker pauses, finishes a sentence, or invites questions. Avoid cutting in mid-sentence; wait for a natural break, then say 不好意思，我可以补充一下吗？ If the chair has set a rule such as 有问题请举手 (raise your hand if you have a question), follow that rule first. For a point that corrects a factual error, use 关于这一点，我想说明一下 to signal a clarification rather than a challenge. After speaking, say 谢谢，我说完了。您继续。 This shows respect and returns control to the chair. In very formal settings, use 请允许我插一句 instead of 我插一句, which can sound blunt.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
关于这个方案，我们先看预算部分。
Regarding this plan, let us first look at the budget section.guānyú zhège fāng'àn, wǒmen xiān kàn yùsuàn bùfen.不好意思，我可以补充一下吗？
Excuse me, may I add something?bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ kěyǐ bǔchōng yīxià ma?当然，请说。
Of course, please go ahead.dāngrán, qǐng shuō.谢谢。关于预算，我想说明一下：去年的数据可能不同。我说完了，您继续。
Thank you. Regarding the budget, I would like to clarify: last year's data may be different. I have finished, please continue.xièxie. guānyú yùsuàn, wǒ xiǎng shuōmíng yīxià: qùnián de shùjù kěnéng bùtóng. wǒ shuō wán le, nín jìxù.A little context goes a long way
In many mainland Chinese workplaces, hierarchy and meeting roles matter. A junior colleague may prefer 请允许我插一句 or 我能不能加一点 to show deference, while a chair or senior colleague may use 我补充一下 more directly. 您 is safer than 你 with clients, senior leaders, or unfamiliar colleagues. In Taiwan, 不好意思 is also common, but 請問 can replace 不好意思 in some polite requests. Register varies by company culture, so mirror the formality of the meeting.
One thing to watch for
Saying 我插一句 (wǒ chā yī jù) as a direct translation of 'Let me cut in.'
Try this instead: 我插一句 can sound blunt in a formal meeting. Use 不好意思，我可以补充一下吗？ or 请允许我插一句 to soften the interruption. For example, say 不好意思，我可以补充一下吗？ instead of 我插一句。
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You want to add a brief point after a colleague finishes a sentence in a formal meeting. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
不好意思，我可以补充一下吗？
This acknowledges the interruption with 不好意思 and asks permission with 我可以……吗？. 请允许我插一句 is also correct in a more formal setting.
2After your comment, how do you politely return the floor to the chair?
Show a sample answer
谢谢，我说完了。您继续。
This thanks the group, signals you are finished, and uses 您继续 to return control respectfully. 谢谢，请继续 is also acceptable.
3You need to correct a factual point, not just add information. Which phrase fits best?
Show a sample answer
关于这一点，我想说明一下。
This phrase links your interruption to the current topic and signals clarification. 我可以补充一下吗？ is possible, but it sounds more like adding than correcting.
Pause for a natural break, soften with 不好意思, ask with 我可以……吗？, then return the floor with 您继续。
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