5 Phrases for Beginners: How to Answer Your Chinese Boss

Chinese language students, have you ever encountered this scenario?

Your boss or coworkers gave you a task to complete in the office–but how can you answer their request in a fluent and appropriate way? Do you know how?

Chinese language teachers at BLCU have prepared this short lesson for beginner students to learn how to answer your Chinese boss in the workplace!

好的。Hǎode

“好的” is the most commonly used answer, it means you have received the information or agree with the decision.

Boss: Tomorrow morning, hand over this report to me. 

Lǎobǎn:Míngtiān zǎoshang bǎ bàogào jiāo gěi wǒ ba。

老板:明天早上把报告交给我吧。

You: Understood/Okay

Nǐ:Hǎode。

你:好的。

收到。Shōudào

“收到” is most commonly used when someone sends a document or memo, and you express you have received it and will discuss after you looked over it. 

Boss: These are the materials for tomorrow’s meeting, everyone please take a look.

Lǎobǎn:Zhè shì míngtiān kāihuì de cáiliào,qǐng dàjiā kànkan 。

老板:这是明天开会的材料,请大家看看。

You: Well received!

Nǐ:Shōudào!

你:收到!

没问题。Méi wèntí

This phrase indicates that you completely accept the task and can complete it well. 

Boss: You’ll be responsible for this project, can you do it well?

Lǎobǎn:Zhège xiàngmù nǐ lái fùzé,néng zuò hǎo ma?

老板:这个项目你来负责,能做好吗?

You: Of course/It’s no problem

Nǐ:Méi wèntí!

你:没问题!

明白了。/知道了。Míngbai le/ Zhīdào le

These phrases mean that you already understand your own tasks and responsibilities and understand how to complete them. 

Boss: We’ll have a meeting tomorrow morning at 9:00, everyone will participate.

Lǎobǎn:Míngtiān zǎoshang 9 diǎn kāi huì,dàjiā dōu cānjiā。

老板:明天早上9点开会,大家都参加。

You: I know/I understand.

Nǐ:Míngbai le。/ Zhīdào le。

你:明白了。/知道了。

我改一下。Wǒ gǎi yíxià

When your boss makes some suggestions about your work, for example your proposal or report needs to be corrected, you can use this sentence.

Boss: I think the contract has some issues here. 

Lǎobǎn:Wǒ juéde hétóng de zhèlǐ hái yǒudiǎn wèntí。

老板:我觉得合同的这里还有点问题。

You: Okay, I will correct it. 

Nǐ:Hǎo,wǒ gǎi yíxià。

你:好,我改一下。

5 Phrases for Beginners: How to Answer Your Chinese Boss

These five phrases are especially well-suited for beginner Chinese learners. What responses have you heard in your workplace? Leave a comment below!

If you want to study Chinese for the workplace, communicating with Chinese customers or working at a Chinese enterprise, and want to understand Chinese culture, click the button here to apply and improve your future career prospects!

Savannah Billman has a master's degree in Chinese Law and Society at the Yenching Academy of Peking University. She holds a B.A. from NYU Shanghai and has also written for The World of Chinese, TechNode, SupChina, and Sixth Tone.
Savannah Billman

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