B1 Expression Formal

请重复一遍

qing chongfu yibian

Please repeat it

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A polite and standard way to ask someone to repeat what they just said.

  • Means: Please repeat one time.
  • Used in: Classrooms, business meetings, or when you didn't hear a stranger.
  • Don't confuse: Don't use '再说一遍' with superiors as it can sound like a command.
Confused face + Polite request = Clear communication

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means 'Please repeat one time'. You use it when you don't understand someone.
Use this phrase in class or at work. It is a polite way to ask someone to say their words again so you can understand them better.
This is a standard, formal request. It is useful when you are in a professional environment or speaking with someone you do not know well. It shows you are listening and want to be accurate.
In B2 contexts, you should understand the nuance of 'face'. By using this phrase, you are politely inviting the speaker to clarify, which is a key social skill in Chinese business and academic settings.
At this level, you recognize that '请重复一遍' is a functional, almost formulaic expression. It is highly effective for managing communication breakdowns in high-stakes environments, ensuring that information transfer is precise.
Mastery involves understanding the sociolinguistic weight of the phrase. It is a tool for maintaining 'mianzi' (face) while asserting the necessity for information integrity. It demonstrates a high level of communicative competence by balancing politeness with functional requirements.

Meaning

A polite request to hear something again.

🌍

Cultural Background

Very standard in schools and offices.

💡

Politeness

Always use '请' to be safe.

Meaning

A polite request to hear something again.

💡

Politeness

Always use '请' to be safe.

Test Yourself

Fill in the missing word.

请______一遍。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 重复

重复 is the standard verb for repeat.

🎉 Score: /1

Frequently Asked Questions

1 questions

No, it is very polite.

Related Phrases

🔄

再说一遍

synonym

Say it again

Where to Use It

🎓

Classroom

Student: 请重复一遍刚才的公式。

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a parrot (repeater) wearing a polite top hat (请).

Visual Association

A person in a suit bowing slightly while asking for a repeat.

Story

You are in a loud cafe. You lean in, smile, and say '请重复一遍' to the barista. They smile back and repeat the order clearly.

Word Web

请重复一遍再说听明白

Challenge

Use this phrase 3 times today when you don't hear something clearly.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?

Spanish uses a question form, while Chinese is an imperative statement.

French high

Répétez, s'il vous plaît.

French uses 's'il vous plaît' at the end, while Chinese puts '请' at the start.

German moderate

Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen?

German is much more indirect than the Chinese version.

Japanese high

もう一度お願いします。

Japanese often omits the verb 'repeat' and just says 'one more time'.

Arabic moderate

هل يمكنك التكرار من فضلك؟

Arabic is more formal and flowery in its requests.

Chinese n/a

请重复一遍

None.

Korean moderate

다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?

Korean is much more focused on honorific verb endings than Chinese.

Portuguese high

Pode repetir, por favor?

Portuguese often uses the verb 'poder' (can) to soften the request.

Easily Confused

请重复一遍 vs 再说一次

Very similar to repeat.

Both are fine.

FAQ (1)

No, it is very polite.

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