Chinese Listening Skills: Responding with 嗯 and 真的吗
Learn to use 嗯 (uh-huh) and 真的吗 (really?) to show you're listening, and ask follow-up questions to keep a conversation going in Mandarin.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In Mandarin conversation, showing that you are listening is as important as speaking. Two common responses are 嗯 (uh-huh) and 真的吗 (really?). 嗯 is a minimal response that signals you are following; 真的吗 expresses surprise or interest and invites the speaker to continue. This lesson teaches you when and how to use these expressions, and how to ask follow-up questions to keep the conversation flowing. You will practice listening and responding appropriately, which is a key skill for intermediate learners.
By the end, you can…
- use 嗯 to acknowledge what someone is saying without interrupting.
- use 真的吗 to express surprise and encourage the speaker to elaborate.
- ask follow-up questions using 然后呢 and 为什么 to keep a conversation going.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
嗯
uh-huh; yeah
èn (or ńg)
A minimal response to show you are listening. It can be pronounced with a falling tone (èn) or as a syllabic nasal (ńg). Use it frequently but not excessively.
真的吗？
Really?
zhēn de ma?
Expresses surprise or interest. It invites the speaker to continue. Use with a rising intonation.
然后呢？
And then?
rán hòu ne?
A follow-up question to ask what happened next. It shows you are engaged and want to hear more.
为什么？
Why?
wèi shén me?
A follow-up question to ask for a reason. It can be used to show curiosity or to seek clarification.
我明白了。
I see.; I understand.
wǒ míng bai le.
A response to indicate that you have understood. It can be used after someone explains something.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To show you are listening, use short responses like 嗯 (uh-huh) and 真的吗 (really?). 嗯 is neutral and can be used while the speaker is talking. 真的吗 is more expressive and usually comes after a statement that surprises you. For example: A: 我昨天去爬山了。 (I went hiking yesterday.) B: 真的吗？ (Really?) A: 对，累死了。 (Yes, I'm exhausted.) You can also combine them: 嗯，真的吗？ (Uh-huh, really?) to show both acknowledgment and surprise.
When to use it
Use 嗯 when you want to signal that you are following without interrupting. It is appropriate in both casual and formal conversations. Use 真的吗 when you want to express surprise or interest, and to encourage the speaker to say more. For follow-up questions, use 然后呢 (and then?) to ask for the next part of a story, and 为什么 (why?) to ask for reasons. For example: A: 我不喜欢那个电影。 (I don't like that movie.) B: 为什么？ (Why?) A: 因为太长了。 (Because it's too long.) These responses keep the conversation going and show that you are engaged.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
我昨天去了一家新开的餐厅。
I went to a newly opened restaurant yesterday.wǒ zuó tiān qù le yì jiā xīn kāi de cān tīng.真的吗？怎么样？
Really? How was it?zhēn de ma? zěn me yàng?嗯，菜很好吃，但是有点贵。
Uh-huh, the food was delicious, but a bit expensive.èn, cài hěn hǎo chī, dàn shì yǒu diǎn guì.为什么贵？然后呢？
Why expensive? And then?wèi shén me guì? rán hòu ne?A little context goes a long way
In Chinese conversation, using 嗯 and 真的吗 appropriately shows that you are a good listener. However, overusing 嗯 can sound perfunctory. Vary your responses with 对 (right), 是啊 (yeah), or 我明白了 (I see). Also, 真的吗 can be used sarcastically in some contexts, but with a rising intonation it usually expresses genuine surprise. Pay attention to tone and context.
One thing to watch for
Using 真的吗 as a literal translation of 'really' in all contexts, such as when you want to confirm information.
Try this instead: 真的吗 is mainly for expressing surprise, not for confirming facts. To confirm, use 真的吗？ with a rising tone, or better, use 真的？ (zhēn de?) or 是吗？ (shì ma?). For example, if someone says 'I'm moving to Beijing,' you can say 真的吗？ to show surprise, but if you want to confirm, say 真的？ or 是吗？
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Your friend says: 我下个月要去中国。 (I'm going to China next month.) What can you say to show surprise and ask for more details?
Show a sample answer
真的吗？去哪个城市？
真的吗 expresses surprise, and 去哪个城市 asks for more details. You could also say 真的吗？然后呢？ or 真的吗？为什么？ depending on what you want to know.
2During a conversation, someone is telling a long story. What can you say to show you are listening without interrupting?
Show a sample answer
嗯。
嗯 is a minimal response that shows you are following. You can also nod and use other short responses like 对 or 是啊, but 嗯 is the most neutral.
3Your friend says: 我不喜欢喝咖啡。 (I don't like drinking coffee.) What follow-up question can you ask to find out the reason?
Show a sample answer
为什么？
为什么 asks for a reason. It is a direct way to ask why. You could also say 为什么呢？ with a softer tone.
Use 嗯 to show you're listening, 真的吗 to express surprise, and follow-up questions like 然后呢 and 为什么 to keep the conversation going. Practice these in real conversations to become a better listener in Chinese.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Chinese into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr