Let someone choose, while paying attention to your tone.
吃什么？— 随便，你选吧。Chī shénme? — Suíbiàn, nǐ xuǎn ba.What should we eat? — Anything's fine; you choose.
Spoken Mandarin
Casual Chinese Expressions You Hear in Real Life
Learn casual Mandarin expressions such as 随便, 算了, 无所谓 and 真的假的, including the tone and context dictionaries often miss.
Casual Mandarin is full of short expressions whose literal translation does not tell you how they feel in conversation. These phrases are especially useful when watching Chinese media, chatting online, or talking with friends.
Which phrase fits?
- 随便 can mean you're happy with any choice, but a flat tone may sound dismissive. 无所谓 can sound more detached.
- 算了 ends or drops a matter; 改天 suggests another time without setting a date.
- 真的假的 reacts to surprising news. 看着办 leaves the decision to someone else; its tone depends on the situation.
Phrases in conversation
Drop a plan or stop discussing something.
算了，我们下次再说。Suàn le, wǒmen xià cì zài shuō.Forget it; let's talk about it next time.
Say you have no strong preference; it may sound indifferent.
去哪儿都可以，我无所谓。Qù nǎr dōu kěyǐ, wǒ wúsuǒwèi.Anywhere is fine; I don't mind.
React to news with surprise or disbelief among friends.
他也来了？真的假的？Tā yě lái le? Zhēn de jiǎ de?He came too? Seriously?
Leave a decision to the other person; context affects how it sounds.
时间不够了，你看着办吧。Shíjiān bú gòu le, nǐ kànzhe bàn ba.We're short on time; use your judgment.
Suggest another day without committing to a date.
今天不方便，改天聊。Jīntiān bù fāngbiàn, gǎitiān liáo.Today doesn't work; let's talk another day.
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