Phrases to sound more natural in conversation
The Essentials of Chinese: Formal vs Informal Language: Phrases to sound more natural in conversation
To sound more natural in conversation, some useful phrases include:
- “Let me know” — to politely ask for information later, e.g., “Let me know what time works for you.”
- “No worries” or “It’s all good” — friendly ways to say “That’s okay” or “Don’t stress about it.”
- “That makes sense” — to show understanding of what someone explained.
- “What’s up?” and “How’s it going?” — casual greetings.
- “Any plans for the weekend?” and “How was your day?” — common small talk phrases.
- “Wait, how do you say that?” — a natural way to ask for a word during conversation.
- Fillers like “Uhh… what’s the word for…?” to fill silence while thinking.
- Expressive reactions like “For real?!” or “No way!” to sound more engaged.
These phrases help conversations flow naturally, show friendliness, and express understanding more like native speakers do. They are used frequently in daily interactions and can make English sound less robotic and more conversational. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6