Understanding Replies: Listening Hacks and Clarification Phrases - Survival Travel Phrases in Spanish, French, and Mandarin

New Words and Phrases (in English)

These phrases help you survive fast or unclear replies: asking people to repeat, slow down, or say important details (like time or price) more clearly. You’ll see each phrase in Spanish, French, and Mandarin with pronunciation and an example.

Word	Pronunciation	Translation	Example
No entiendo. / Je ne comprends pas. / 我听不懂。 (wǒ tīng bù dǒng)	Spanish: noh en-TYEN-doh; French: zhuh nuh kohm-PRAHN pah; Mandarin: woh ting boo-DONG	I don’t understand.	Perdón, no entiendo. / Pardon, je ne comprends pas. / 对不起，我听不懂。 (duìbuqǐ, wǒ tīng bù dǒng)(Sorry, I don’t understand.)
¿Puede repetir, por favor? / Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ? / 请再说一遍，可以吗？ (qǐng zài shuō yí biàn, kěyǐ ma?)	Spanish: PWEH-deh reh-peh-TEER, por fah-VOR; French: voo poo-VAY ray-peh-TAY, seel voo PLEH; Mandarin: cheeng dzai shwaw ee-BYEN, kuh-YEE mah	Can you repeat, please?	Disculpe, ¿puede repetir, por favor? / Excusez-moi, vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ? / 不好意思，请再说一遍，可以吗？ (bùhǎo yìsi, qǐng zài shuō yí biàn, kěyǐ ma?)(Excuse me, can you repeat that, please?)
Más despacio, por favor. / Plus lentement, s’il vous plaît. / 请说慢一点。 (qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn)	Spanish: mahs dehs-PAH-syoh, por fah-VOR; French: plu lahnt-mohn, seel voo PLEH; Mandarin: cheeng shwaw MAHN ee-dyen	More slowly, please.	¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? / Vous pouvez parler plus lentement, s’il vous plaît ? / 您可以说慢一点吗？ (nín kěyǐ shuō màn yì diǎn ma?)(Can you speak more slowly, please?)
¿Puede escribirlo, por favor? / Vous pouvez l’écrire, s’il vous plaît ? / 可以帮我写下来吗？ (kěyǐ bāng wǒ xiě xiàlai ma?)	Spanish: PWEH-deh ehs-kree-BEER-lo, por fah-VOR; French: voo poo-VAY lay-KREER, seel voo PLEH; Mandarin: kuh-YEE bahng woh shyeh SHYAH-lai mah	Can you write it down, please?	Es muy rápido, ¿puede escribirlo, por favor? / C’est très rapide, vous pouvez l’écrire, s’il vous plaît ? / 太快了，可以帮我写下来吗？ (tài kuài le, kěyǐ bāng wǒ xiě xiàlai ma?)(It’s very fast; can you write it down, please?)
¿A qué hora? / À quelle heure ? / 几点？ (jǐ diǎn?)	Spanish: ah keh OR-ah; French: ah kel UHR; Mandarin: jee-DYEN	At what time? / What time?	Perdón, ¿a qué hora exactamente? / Pardon, à quelle heure exactement ? / 不好意思，几点，具体的？ (bùhǎo yìsi, jǐ diǎn, jùtǐ de?)(Sorry, at what time exactly?)
¿Cuánto cuesta? / Ça coûte combien ? / 多少钱？ (duōshao qián?)	Spanish: KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah; French: sah KOOT kohm-BYEN; Mandarin: DWOR-shaow chyen	How much does it cost? / How much money?	Perdón, no oí bien, ¿cuánto cuesta? / Pardon, je n’ai pas bien entendu, ça coûte combien ? / 不好意思，我没听清楚，多少钱？ (bùhǎo yìsi, wǒ méi tīng qīngchu, duōshao qián?)(Sorry, I didn’t hear clearly, how much does it cost?)
Entonces, a las… ¿correcto? / Donc, à … heures, c’est bien ça ? / 那就是…点，对吗？ (nà jiù shì … diǎn, duì ma?)	Spanish: en-TON-ses ah lahs … koh-REK-toh; French: donk ah … uhr, seh byan sah; Mandarin: nah jyo SHIH … dyen, dway mah	So, at … o’clock, is that right?	Entonces, a las seis, ¿correcto? / Donc, à six heures, c’est bien ça ? / 那就是六点，对吗？ (nà jiù shì liù diǎn, duì ma?)(So, at six o’clock, is that right?)
¿Sí o no? / Oui ou non ? / 是不是？ (shì bu shì?)	Spanish: see oh noh; French: wee oo noh; Mandarin: shir boo shir	Yes or no? / Is it or not?	Solo necesito saber, ¿sí o no? / J’ai juste besoin de savoir, oui ou non ? / 我只需要知道，是不是？ (wǒ zhǐ xūyào zhīdào, shì bu shì?)(I just need to know, yes or no?)

Language Pattern (in English)

1. Simple "I don’t understand" patterns

All three languages use a negative + understand pattern.

Spanish: No entiendo.
"No" (not) + "entiendo" (I understand).
You can add a little softener: Perdón, no entiendo. (Sorry, I don’t understand.)

French: Je ne comprends pas.
Classic French sandwich: ne … pas around the verb.
Literally: I not understand not.

Mandarin: 我听不懂。 (wǒ tīng bù dǒng)
Literally: I listen-not-understand.
不懂 (bù dǒng) means "don’t understand".

Use these as a quick stop signal: the other person knows they must change something.

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2. Asking to repeat or slow down

Patterns are very similar across languages:

Can you + verb + please?
Spanish: ¿Puede repetir, por favor? (Can you repeat, please?)
"¿Puede …?" = Can you …? (formal)
French: Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ?
"Vous pouvez … ?" = You can … ? (formal "can you …?")
Mandarin: 请再说一遍，可以吗？ (qǐng zài shuō yí biàn, kěyǐ ma?)
请 (qǐng) = please; 再说一遍 (zài shuō yí biàn) = say it again; 可以吗 (kěyǐ ma) = is it OK?

More slowly, please. – very short and useful:
Spanish: Más despacio, por favor.
French: Plus lentement, s’il vous plaît.
Mandarin: 请说慢一点。 (qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn)

You don’t need full grammar. Even just: Despacio, por favor / Lentement, s’il vous plaît / 慢一点 (màn yì diǎn) will usually work.

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3. Confirming key information (time, price)

You rarely need every word. Listen for numbers and use short check-back phrases.

Asking the time:
Spanish: ¿A qué hora? (At what time?)
French: À quelle heure ? (At what time?)
Mandarin: 几点？ (jǐ diǎn?) (What time?)

Confirming the time:
Spanish: Entonces, a las seis, ¿correcto?
French: Donc, à six heures, c’est bien ça ?
Mandarin: 那就是六点，对吗？ (nà jiù shì liù diǎn, duì ma?)

Pattern: So, [key word/number], right?

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4. Yes/No style questions and answers

Spanish:
¿Sí o no? = yes or no?
Common short answers: sí, no, creo que sí (I think so), creo que no (I don’t think so).

French:
Oui ou non ? = yes or no?
Common short answers: oui, non, je crois que oui (I think so), je ne crois pas (I don’t think so).

Mandarin:
是不是？ (shì bu shì?) = literally "is-not-is?" – yes/no style.
Common short answers: 是 (shì) = yes/it is; 不是 (bú shì) = no/it isn’t.

When listening, focus on these key words:

Time: numbers + words like hora / heure / 点 (diǎn)
Price: numbers + cuesta / coûte / 钱 (qián)
Yes/No: sí / no / oui / non / 是 / 不是

You don’t need to understand everything – just catch the number and then confirm with a short phrase.

Practice Dialogue (in English)

You’re at a hotel reception asking about a tour time and price. The receptionist speaks quickly. Use clarification phrases to manage the conversation and confirm key info.

At a hotel reception asking about a city tour (Spanish, French, Mandarin versions).

Traveler

Spanish: Perdón, no entiendo. ¿A qué hora es el tour? French: Pardon, je ne comprends pas. À quelle heure est la visite ? Mandarin: 不好意思，我听不懂。请问，几点开始游览？ (bùhǎo yìsi, wǒ tīng bù dǒng. qǐngwèn, jǐ diǎn kāishǐ yóulǎn?)

Sorry, I don’t understand. What time is the tour?

Receptionist

Spanish: Es a las seis de la tarde, pero hablo muy rápido, lo siento. French: C’est à six heures de l’après-midi, mais je parle très vite, désolé. Mandarin: 是下午六点开始，我说得有点快，不好意思。 (shì xiàwǔ liù diǎn kāishǐ, wǒ shuō de yǒudiǎn kuài, bùhǎo yìsi.)

It’s at six in the evening, but I speak very fast, sorry.

Traveler

Spanish: ¿Puede repetir, por favor? Más despacio. French: Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ? Plus lentement. Mandarin: 请再说一遍，可以吗？请说慢一点。 (qǐng zài shuō yí biàn, kěyǐ ma? qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn.)

Can you repeat, please? More slowly.

Receptionist

Spanish: Claro. Es a las seis. Entonces, a las seis, ¿correcto? French: Bien sûr. C’est à six heures. Donc, à six heures, c’est bien ça ? Mandarin: 当然。是六点。那就是六点，对吗？ (dāngrán. shì liù diǎn. nà jiù shì liù diǎn, duì ma?)

Of course. It’s at six. So, at six o’clock, is that right?

Traveler

Spanish: Sí, a las seis. ¿Y cuánto cuesta? French: Oui, à six heures. Et ça coûte combien ? Mandarin: 是，六点。那，多少钱？ (shì, liù diǎn. nà, duōshao qián?)

Yes, at six. And how much does it cost?

Receptionist

Spanish: Cuesta treinta euros. French: Ça coûte trente euros. Mandarin: 三十欧元。 (sānshí ōuyuán.)

It costs thirty euros.

Traveler

Spanish: Perdón, no oí bien, ¿puede escribirlo, por favor? French: Pardon, je n’ai pas bien entendu, vous pouvez l’écrire, s’il vous plaît ? Mandarin: 不好意思，我没听清楚，可以帮我写下来吗？ (bùhǎo yìsi, wǒ méi tīng qīngchu, kěyǐ bāng wǒ xiě xiàlai ma?)

Sorry, I didn’t hear clearly, can you write it down, please?

Receptionist

Spanish: Claro, treinta euros, ¿sí o no? French: Bien sûr, trente euros, oui ou non ? Mandarin: 好，三十欧元，是不是？ (hǎo, sānshí ōuyuán, shì bu shì?)

Sure, thirty euros, yes or no?

Traveler

Spanish: Sí, perfecto. Gracias. French: Oui, parfait. Merci. Mandarin: 是的，太好了。谢谢。 (shì de, tài hǎo le. xièxie.)

Yes, perfect. Thank you.

Check Your Understanding (in English)

Test your understanding of clarification phrases and key information questions.

You didn’t hear the price clearly. Which full phrase best asks the other person to repeat it more slowly in all three languages?

Spanish: ¿Puede repetir, por favor? Más despacio. French: Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ? Plus lentement. Mandarin: 请再说一遍，可以吗？请说慢一点。 (qǐng zài shuō yí biàn, kěyǐ ma? qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn.)
Spanish: No entiendo. ¿Cuánto cuesta? French: Je ne comprends pas. Ça coûte combien ? Mandarin: 我听不懂。多少钱？ (wǒ tīng bù dǒng. duōshao qián?)
Spanish: ¿A qué hora? Más despacio. French: À quelle heure ? Plus lentement. Mandarin: 几点？请说慢一点。 (jǐ diǎn? qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn.)
Spanish: Entonces, a las seis, ¿correcto? French: Donc, à six heures, c’est bien ça ? Mandarin: 那就是六点，对吗？ (nà jiù shì liù diǎn, duì ma?)

Show Answer

Answer: A) Spanish: ¿Puede repetir, por favor? Más despacio. French: Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ? Plus lentement. Mandarin: 请再说一遍，可以吗？请说慢一点。 (qǐng zài shuō yí biàn, kěyǐ ma? qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn.)

Option 1 directly means “Can you repeat, please? More slowly.” in Spanish, French, and Mandarin. It combines a polite request to repeat with a clear request to speak more slowly, which is exactly what you need when you didn’t hear the price (or any detail) clearly.

Key Terms

Perdón / Pardon / 不好意思 (bùhǎo yìsi): Sorry / excuse me; softens your request when you didn’t understand.
¿Sí o no? / Oui ou non ? / 是不是？ (shì bu shì?): Yes or no? / Is it or not? Forces a clear yes/no answer.
¿A qué hora? / À quelle heure ? / 几点？ (jǐ diǎn?): At what time? / What time? Used to ask or confirm times.
Es a las seis. / C’est à six heures. / 是六点。 (shì liù diǎn.): It’s at six o’clock; example of giving a time with the number 6.
¿Cuánto cuesta? / Ça coûte combien ? / 多少钱？ (duōshao qián?): How much does it cost? Essential money/price question.
No entiendo. / Je ne comprends pas. / 我听不懂。 (wǒ tīng bù dǒng): I don’t understand; core phrase to signal you are lost and need help.
Cuesta treinta euros. / Ça coûte trente euros. / 三十欧元。 (sānshí ōuyuán.): It costs thirty euros; example of stating a price with the number 30.
Más despacio, por favor. / Plus lentement, s’il vous plaît. / 请说慢一点。 (qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn): More slowly, please; ask the speaker to slow down.
Entonces, a las… ¿correcto? / Donc, à … heures, c’est bien ça ? / 那就是…点，对吗？ (nà jiù shì … diǎn, duì ma?): So, at … o’clock, is that right? Check-back phrase to confirm times.
¿Puede escribirlo, por favor? / Vous pouvez l’écrire, s’il vous plaît ? / 可以帮我写下来吗？ (kěyǐ bāng wǒ xiě xiàlai ma?): Can you write it down, please? Very useful for times, addresses, and prices.
¿Puede repetir, por favor? / Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ? / 请再说一遍，可以吗？ (qǐng zài shuō yí biàn, kěyǐ ma?): Can you repeat, please? Polite way to ask someone to say something again.