Chinese Conversation Connectors — React, Add and Suggest

English speakers often fill silence with long explanations. In Mandarin, a short reaction followed by a suggestion is usually enough.

Chinese	Pinyin	Use
原来如此。	Yuánlái rúcǐ.	I see / That explains it.
那我们…吧。	Nà wǒmen…ba.	Then let’s…
对了，…	Duì le, …	By the way, …

Basic dialogue

Friend: 明天会下雨。
(Míngtiān huì xiàyǔ.)
Learner: 原来如此。那我们明天去博物馆吧。
(Yuánlái rúcǐ. Nà wǒmen míngtiān qù bówùguǎn ba.)

A different plan

Friend: 这个周末我没有时间。
(Zhège zhōumò wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān.)
Learner: 原来如此。那我们下周去吧。
(Yuánlái rúcǐ. Nà wǒmen xià zhōu qù ba.)

Takeaway

• React first, then add your question or proposal.
• 那 (nà) links your next idea to what was just said.

Choose the connector by your next move

Use 原来如此 (yuánlái rúcǐ) when you have just understood something, 那 (nà) when you want to move toward a plan, and 不过 (búguò) when you need one reservation. Say the connector with the sentence that follows it; on its own, it can sound as if you have finished speaking.

Related: put connectors to work in giving opinions, and keep the exchange light with small talk.

By the end of this chapter, you can say

原来如此。那我们明天去吧。 (Yuánlái rúcǐ. Nà wǒmen míngtiān qù ba.)

Practical note for this chapter

Keep a daily exchange moving: small talk, plans, messages, shopping and visits. In this chapter, practice giving a short response and then checking what matters.

Use it in context

A: 明天下雨，我们还去吗？ (Míngtiān xiàyǔ, wǒmen hái qù ma?)

B: 原来如此。那我们明天去吧。 (Yuánlái rúcǐ. Nà wǒmen míngtiān qù ba.)

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Phrase map for this chapter

Question or situation

明天下雨，我们还去吗？ (Míngtiān xiàyǔ, wǒmen hái qù ma?)

Central response

原来如此。那我们明天去吧。 (Yuánlái rúcǐ. Nà wǒmen míngtiān qù ba.)

Another natural way to say it

这样啊，那我们改天去吧。 (Zhèyàng a, nà wǒmen gǎitiān qù ba.)

Use this variation in a situation you genuinely expect to handle.

How to use it

Listen to the model once, then say it again with one detail from your own situation.

Turn the model into three conversation turns

1. 1. Open the situation明天下雨，我们还去吗？ (Míngtiān xiàyǔ, wǒmen hái qù ma?)
2. 2. Say the central response原来如此。那我们明天去吧。 (Yuánlái rúcǐ. Nà wǒmen míngtiān qù ba.)
3. 3. Add an alternative这样啊，那我们改天去吧。 (Zhèyàng a, nà wǒmen gǎitiān qù ba.)

Before acting, check the point most likely to cause a misunderstanding. This dialogue is for practice. For important decisions, confirm official guidance as well.

A useful variation

Keep the same purpose, then change the person, time or place to make it your own.

这样啊，那我们改天去吧。 (Zhèyàng a, nà wǒmen gǎitiān qù ba.)

Use this variation in a situation you genuinely expect to handle.

Listen to the model once, then say it again with one detail from your own situation.

A common trap

For important details, do not decide from what you think you heard; check written information when needed.

“原来如此”后要接建议、问题或下一步。 (“Yuánlái rúcǐ” hòu yào jiē jiànyì, wèntí huò xià yí bù.)

This dialogue is for practice. For important decisions, confirm official guidance as well.

Three-step practice

1. Open the situation in one short phrase
2. Say the central response
3. Add one detail of your own