In this workshop, you will practice giving advice and responding to it in Chinese. You will hear recorded lines that show common ways to suggest something, such as suggesting rest, asking about changing jobs, offering to go with someone, and asking someone to ask another person first. You will also see a short dialogue about feeling tired and having homework. By the end, you will be able to understand and use these lines in simple conversations.
Understanding Advice Phrases
The recordings include several ways to give advice. «也许你应该休息一下。» means 'Maybe you should rest a little.' It uses a soft suggestion. «你有没有想过换工作？» means 'Have you thought about changing jobs?' This asks if the person has considered an option. «要不要我陪你一起去？» means 'How about I go with you?' This offers to join the person. «不如先问问他。» means 'Why not ask him first?' This suggests asking someone else before deciding. Each line gives advice in a slightly different way. Notice that some are direct suggestions, while others are questions that invite the person to think about an idea.
A Short Dialogue About Being Tired
In the recorded dialogue, speaker A says «你看起来有点累。也许你应该休息一下。», which means 'You look a little tired. Maybe you should rest a little.' Speaker B replies with «你说得对，可是我还有很多作业。», meaning 'You're right, but I still have a lot of homework.' Then speaker A asks «你有没有想过先做最重要的？», which means 'Have you thought about doing the most important one first?' Speaker B answers with «好主意，我试试看。谢谢你！», meaning 'Good idea, I'll give it a try. Thank you!' This dialogue shows how advice can be given gently and how the other person can accept it or explain a problem. The advice moves from rest to a study strategy.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
也许你应该休息一下。
Maybe you should rest a little.
yěxǔ nǐ yīnggāi xiūxi yīxià
你有没有想过换工作？
Have you thought about changing jobs?
nǐ yǒu méi yǒu xiǎng guò huàn gōngzuò
要不要我陪你一起去？
How about I go with you?
yào bu yào wǒ péi nǐ yìqǐ qù
不如先问问他。
Why not ask him first?
bùrú xiān wèn wen tā
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
你看起来有点累。也许你应该休息一下。
You look a little tired. Maybe you should rest a little.你说得对，可是我还有很多作业。
You're right, but I still have a lot of homework.你有没有想过先做最重要的？
Have you thought about doing the most important one first?好主意，我试试看。谢谢你！
Good idea, I'll give it a try. Thank you!Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Offer and Respond
You will play both roles in a short exchange. Use the recorded lines to guide you. Imagine a friend looks tired and has homework.
Your task: First, read speaker A's line: «你看起来有点累。也许你应该休息一下。». Then read speaker B's reply: «你说得对，可是我还有很多作业。». Then read speaker A's follow-up: «你有没有想过先做最重要的？». Finally, read speaker B's response: «好主意，我试试看。谢谢你！». After reading, check that you used the lines in the correct order: A gives advice, B responds, A gives new advice, B accepts.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Right Response
You will hear a piece of advice and choose a suitable reply from the recorded lines. Imagine someone says «也许你应该休息一下。» to you, and you want to reply that you have homework.
Your task: Which recorded reply fits best when you want to mention homework? Option 1: «你说得对，可是我还有很多作业。». Option 2: «好主意，我试试看。谢谢你！». Option 3: «要不要我陪你一起去？». Think about what each line means. «你说得对，可是我还有很多作业。» means 'You're right, but I still have a lot of homework.' «好主意，我试试看。谢谢你！» means 'Good idea, I'll give it a try. Thank you!' «要不要我陪你一起去？» means 'How about I go with you?' Choose the reply that mentions homework after someone suggests you rest.
Recall and Role Swap
You will recall the dialogue and then swap roles. Imagine you are speaker A first, then speaker B.
Your task: Without looking back, try to remember the order of the dialogue. Then say the lines as speaker A: «你看起来有点累。也许你应该休息一下。», then «你有没有想过先做最重要的？». Then say the lines as speaker B: «你说得对，可是我还有很多作业。», then «好主意，我试试看。谢谢你！». After that, swap roles: speaker B says «你说得对，可是我还有很多作业。» and «好主意，我试试看。谢谢你！», and speaker A says «你看起来有点累。也许你应该休息一下。» and «你有没有想过先做最重要的？». Keep the chronological order: first A's advice, then B's reply, then A's follow-up, then B's response.
Common questions
Can I use these advice phrases in any situation?
These phrases are suitable for friendly, informal conversations. They are gentle suggestions, not commands. For example, «也许你应该休息一下。» is a soft way to suggest rest. «你有没有想过换工作？» asks if someone has considered an option. Use them when you want to offer advice without being pushy.
What if I want to accept advice?
You can use «好主意，我试试看。谢谢你！», which means 'Good idea, I'll give it a try. Thank you!' This shows you agree with the suggestion. If you have a reason you cannot follow the advice, you can use «你说得对，可是我还有很多作业。», which means 'You're right, but I still have a lot of homework.' This acknowledges the advice while explaining your situation.
Sources and further reading
- chinese: give advice to friendChecked September 2026
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