How to Say “Please speak slower” in Chinese
Small talk and travel · HSK 2
"Please speak slower" in Chinese is 请说慢一点 (qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn). 请说慢一点 (qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn, "please speak a bit slower") is the core phrase every Mandarin learner uses daily in China. Native speakers often speak at full speed even when they know you are learning; asking explicitly is essential.
Primary translation
请说慢一点
qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn
Traditional: 請說慢一點
When to use it
请说慢一点 (qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn, "please speak a bit slower") is the core phrase every Mandarin learner uses daily in China. Native speakers often speak at full speed even when they know you are learning; asking explicitly is essential. Related asks: 再说一遍 (say it one more time), 可以用英文吗 (can you use English?), 我写下来 (let me write it down). Chinese speakers are usually happy to slow down but may forget within a minute; do not hesitate to ask again.
Example sentences
请说慢一点，我在学中文。
Qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn, wǒ zài xué Zhōngwén.
Please speak slower, I am learning Chinese.
可以再说一遍吗？
Kěyǐ zài shuō yí biàn ma?
Could you say that again?
这个字怎么写？
Zhège zì zěnme xiě?
How do you write this character?