"Please speak more slowly!"
Translation:请说慢一点儿！
28 Comments
“请慢一点儿说” also works, I am a native speaker, I dunno why I am doing Chinese, but yeah....
I totally agree, I live with a Native speaker and he said that was acceptable. Come on Duo!
556
慢 here means slow, modifying the verb 說/speak; So it is an adverb.
一点儿 means "a little" and is usually an adjective before nouns; 有一点儿 is an adverbial phrase for "a little" before adjectives and adverbs; It often implies "too" as well,
e.g. 这件衣服有一点儿旧
Lit. This piece of clothes is a little (too) old.
~一点儿 placing in arrears is actually a special form that changes an adjective or an adverb into comparative, while carrying the meaning of "a little" as magnitude.
So 慢一点儿 is "a little slower". 请说慢一点儿 is literally "Please speak a little slower."
- 556
It makes sense to me from the time I learned to read and write...
And how come would using a postposition not making sense with the word "please"?
- 556
Firstly, 请慢用 is an idiomic usage. You won't say it in other occasions and in an informal situation. (So it's not used often unless you are a waiter/waitress.)
Secondly, adverbial phrase placing before or after the verb have different implications.
请快一点说
means tell me/us quickly
The speed refer to the time lapsed before the action start.
请说快一点
means say it quickly
The speed refers to the speech itself.
Is there any difference between speak and say in Chinese? To me this seems like we're telling them to say the exact words "more slowly"
- 556
There are several characters and words in Chinese about speaking, saying, telling, etc. and they don't perfectly match "speak" and "say". Therefore it is not possible to make a simple inference.
How can 慢 modify 说 here without 得 between them? Isn't that rule that it must be 说得慢？
