How to Say 'So You're Saying...' in Chinese: Confirm Understanding Before It Breaks Down
Learn Mandarin phrases to repeat back what someone said — 所以你的意思是……, 你是说……, 我理解得对吗 — to confirm understanding before misunderstanding happens.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When you repeat back what someone said, you are not just showing you listened; you are checking that your understanding matches theirs. In Mandarin, this move is often introduced by 所以你的意思是…… (suǒyǐ nǐ de yìsi shì...) or 你是说…… (nǐ shì shuō...), followed by your paraphrase and a confirmation tag such as 对吗 (duì ma) or 我理解得对吗 (wǒ lǐjiě de duì ma). This lesson teaches you to use these phrases to prevent misunderstanding, not to repair it after it happens. You will learn the core pattern, when to use it, and how to keep your tone collaborative rather than confrontational.
By the end, you can…
- repeat back a speaker's main point in Mandarin using 所以你的意思是…… or 你是说…….
- add a confirmation tag such as 对吗 or 我理解得对吗 to check my paraphrase.
- distinguish this preventive check from asking someone to repeat because I did not hear.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
所以你的意思是……
So you're saying...
suǒyǐ nǐ de yìsi shì...
The most direct repeat-back opener. Use it after the other person finishes a thought, then state your paraphrase. It signals you are organizing their point, not challenging it.
你是说……
You mean... / Are you saying...
nǐ shì shuō...
Slightly shorter and more conversational. It works well when you want to check one specific detail rather than summarize everything.
我理解得对吗？
Is my understanding correct?
wǒ lǐjiě de duì ma?
A polite confirmation tag placed after your paraphrase. It softens the check and invites correction without sounding like a test.
我确认一下，你的意思是……
Let me confirm — you mean...
wǒ quèrèn yíxià, nǐ de yìsi shì...
Useful in work or service settings where accuracy matters. 确认一下 (què rèn yí xià) makes the check explicit and professional.
换句话说，就是……
In other words, it's...
huàn jù huà shuō, jiù shì...
Use this when you want to restate their point in your own words. It shows active processing and gives them a clear chance to correct you.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is: opener + paraphrase + confirmation tag. For example, 所以你的意思是，我们下周一之前要交报告，对吗？ (suǒyǐ nǐ de yìsi shì, wǒmen xià zhōuyī zhīqián yào jiāo bàogào, duì ma?) — 'So you're saying we need to submit the report before next Monday, right?' You can also use 你是说……我理解得对吗？ (nǐ shì shuō... wǒ lǐjiě de duì ma?) when you want to check a detail. Notice that Mandarin does not require a separate word for 'that' here; the paraphrase simply follows the opener. Keep the paraphrase short — one main point is enough.
When to use it
Use this move when instructions, plans, or feelings are complex enough that a small gap could cause a problem. It is especially useful in meetings, appointments, and negotiations. For example, after a colleague explains a schedule change, you can say 我确认一下，你的意思是会议改到周三下午三点，对吗？ (wǒ quèrèn yíxià, nǐ de yìsi shì huìyì gǎi dào zhōusān xiàwǔ sān diǎn, duì ma?) This prevents misunderstanding before it happens. Do not use it when you simply did not hear; in that case, say 不好意思，我没听清，请再说一遍 (bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ méi tīng qīng, qǐng zài shuō yí biàn).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
这个项目我们得先做用户测试，再决定要不要继续开发。
For this project, we need to do user testing first, then decide whether to continue development.zhège xiàngmù wǒmen děi xiān zuò yònghù cèshì, zài juédìng yào bu yào jìxù kāifā.所以你的意思是，测试结果出来之前，我们先不开发，对吗？
So you're saying we won't start development until the test results come out, right?suǒyǐ nǐ de yìsi shì, cèshì jiéguǒ chūlái zhīqián, wǒmen xiān bù kāifā, duì ma?对，但小范围的准备工作可以先做。
Right, but small-scale preparation can start first.duì, dàn xiǎo fànwéi de zhǔnbèi gōngzuò kěyǐ xiān zuò.明白了，我理解得对吗？就是大开发暂停，小准备继续。
Got it — is my understanding correct? Full development pauses, small preparation continues.míngbai le, wǒ lǐjiě de duì ma? jiù shì dà kāifā zàntíng, xiǎo zhǔnbèi jìxù.A little context goes a long way
In Mandarin conversation, repeating back someone's point can sound like a challenge if your tone is flat or your paraphrase is too long. Keep your voice gentle, use 对吗 or 我理解得对吗 to invite correction, and avoid adding 但是 (dànshì, 'but') immediately after the paraphrase unless you truly disagree. In many workplaces, 我确认一下 (wǒ quèrèn yíxià) is a neutral and professional way to signal that you are checking for accuracy, not doubting the speaker.
One thing to watch for
Using 你是说…… with a rising, skeptical tone to mean 'Are you really saying that?' when you actually just want to confirm.
Try this instead: Keep the tone neutral and add a confirmation tag. Say 你是说，我们周三交，对吗？ (nǐ shì shuō, wǒmen zhōusān jiāo, duì ma?) instead of a bare 你是说……？ with a sharp rise. The tag makes your intent clear: you are checking, not challenging.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Your colleague says: 这个报告周五之前必须发给客户。Repeat it back and confirm.
Show a sample answer
所以你的意思是，这个报告周五之前必须发给客户，对吗？
This uses the core opener 所以你的意思是 plus the confirmation tag 对吗. 我理解得对吗？ would also work.
2You want to check one detail: the meeting is at 3 p.m., not 2 p.m. Write a repeat-back question.
Show a sample answer
你是说，会议是下午三点，不是两点，对吗？
你是说 is good for checking a specific detail. The contrast 不是两点 makes the check precise.
3You did not hear the speaker clearly. Should you use 所以你的意思是……? Why or why not?
Show a sample answer
No. Use 不好意思，我没听清，请再说一遍。
所以你的意思是…… is for confirming understanding, not for asking someone to repeat because of poor audio. Using it when you did not hear can confuse the speaker.
Repeat back with 所以你的意思是…… or 你是说……, add 对吗 or 我理解得对吗, and keep your tone collaborative. This prevents misunderstanding before it starts.
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