💎 Chinese Polite Requests & Modern Slang - 请告诉我 (qǐng gàosu wǒ) & Contemporary Expressions - Essential Communication Mastery

Master the art of polite requests in Chinese using the essential structure 请告诉我 (qǐng gàosu wǒ) for courteous communication. Learn contemporary Chinese slang and expressions including 渣男 (zhā nán), 绿茶 (lǜchá), and modern relationship vocabulary. Build fluency in both formal polite expressions and contemporary Chinese culture.

Chinese lesson from Wednesday, September 3, 2025

🔄 Essential Chinese Polite Requests & Modern Expressions

Learn to make polite requests using the fundamental structure 请告诉我 (qǐng gàosu wǒ) for courteous communication. Master contemporary Chinese slang including 渣男 (zhā nán), 绿茶 (lǜchá), and modern relationship vocabulary. These patterns are essential for both formal communication and understanding contemporary Chinese culture.

Perfect for beginners and essential concepts

📚 Key Phrase: 我的哥哥比我大一岁 (wǒ de gēge bǐ wǒ dà yī suì)

📚 Grammar Focus

1. 请告诉我 (qǐng gàosu wǒ) - "Please tell me" (Polite Request Structure)

请 + 告诉 + 我 + [Object/Question]
qǐng + gàosu + wǒ + [Object/Question]
Expresses polite requests for information or opinions
• 请告诉我 = Please tell me
• 请告诉我你的想法 = Please tell me your opinion
• 请告诉我你的秘密 = Please tell me your secret
• Essential for courteous communication
请告诉我你的想法
qǐng gàosu wǒ nǐ de xiǎngfǎ
Please tell me your opinion

2. 比 (bǐ) - "Than" (Comparison Structure)

A + 比 + B + Adjective + [Measure]
A + bǐ + B + Adjective + [Measure]
Expresses comparisons between two things or people
• 我的哥哥比我大一岁 = My brother is one year older than me
• 他比我高 = He is taller than me
• 这本书比那本书贵 = This book is more expensive than that book
• Essential for making comparisons
我的哥哥比我大一岁
wǒ de gēge bǐ wǒ dà yī suì
My older brother is one year older than me

3. Contemporary Chinese Slang - Modern Expressions

Modern Relationship & Social Vocabulary
Contemporary expressions used in modern Chinese culture
Understanding current Chinese slang and social expressions
• 渣男 = Scumbag man (despicable man)
• 渣女 = Scumbag woman (despicable woman)
• 绿茶 = Green tea (woman feigning innocence)
• Essential for understanding contemporary Chinese culture
渣男
zhā nán
Scumbag man / despicable man
我的哥哥比我大一岁
wǒ de gēge bǐ wǒ dà yī suì
My older brother is one year older than me
Mi hermano mayor es un año mayor que yo

词汇 Vocabulary Practice

Practice writing the phrases from today's Chinese lesson!

我的哥哥比我大一岁
wǒ de gēge bǐ wǒ dà yī suì
English:
My older brother is one year older than me
Español:
Mi hermano mayor es un año mayor que yo
请告诉我。
qǐng gàosu wǒ
English:
Please tell me
Español:
Por favor, dime / cuéntame
请告诉我你喜欢这部电影吗?
qǐng gàosu wǒ, nǐ xǐhuān zhè bù diànyǐng ma?
English:
Please tell me, do you like this movie?
Español:
Por favor dime, ¿te gusta esta película?
请告诉我你的想法。
qǐng gàosu wǒ nǐ de xiǎngfǎ
English:
Please tell me your opinion
Español:
Por favor dime tu opinión / lo que piensas
请告诉我关于你女朋友的事情。
qǐng gàosu wǒ guānyú nǐ nǚpéngyou de shìqing
English:
Please tell me things about your girlfriend
Español:
Por favor cuéntame cosas sobre tu novia
请告诉我你的秘密。
qǐng gàosu wǒ nǐ de mìmì
English:
Please tell me your secret
Español:
Por favor, dime tu secreto
请告诉我你的银行密码。
qǐng gàosu wǒ nǐ de yínháng mìmǎ
English:
Please tell me your bank password
Español:
Por favor dime tu contraseña bancaria
共同银行账户
gòngtóng yínháng zhànghù
English:
Joint bank account
Español:
Cuenta bancaria conjunta
渣男
zhā nán
English:
Scumbag man / despicable man
Español:
Hombre basura / despreciable
心机女
xīnjī nǚ
English:
Calculating woman / manipulative woman
Español:
Mujer calculadora / manipuladora
渣女
zhā nǚ
English:
Scumbag woman / despicable woman
Español:
Mujer basura / despreciable
绿茶
lǜchá
English:
Green tea / (slang) woman who feigns innocence while manipulating
Español:
Té verde / (slang) mujer que aparenta inocencia manipulando
绿茶婊
lǜchá biǎo
English:
"Green tea bitch" (offensive slang)
Español:
"Perra del té verde" (slang ofensivo)
您要注册公司吗?
nín yào zhùcè gōngsī ma?
English:
Do you want to register a company?
Español:
¿Quiere usted registrar una empresa?

文化 Cultural Insights

💎 The structures 请告诉我 (qǐng gàosu wǒ) and contemporary Chinese slang reveal deep aspects of Chinese communication philosophy and modern cultural values. 请告诉我 represents the Chinese approach to politeness - using explicit structures like '请告诉我你的想法' (Please tell me your opinion) shows a cultural preference for respectful communication and maintaining social harmony, reflecting Chinese values of courtesy and mutual respect. This contrasts with English's more direct approach to information requests. Contemporary Chinese slang like 渣男 (zhā nán) and 绿茶 (lǜchá) embodies Chinese cultural emphasis on social awareness and directness in identifying problematic behavior - these terms are more than just insults; they reflect the Chinese value of social consciousness and the importance of recognizing manipulative or despicable behavior in relationships. The structure 请告诉我 (qǐng gàosu wǒ) is used more frequently in Chinese than equivalent expressions in English because Chinese speakers prioritize politeness and respect in formal communication, creating clear social boundaries and helping establish understanding of appropriate communication levels. Phrases like '请告诉我你的秘密' (Please tell me your secret) demonstrate trust and intimacy while maintaining politeness. This reflects broader Chinese cultural values of respect and social harmony in communication. The contemporary slang expressions are central to modern Chinese social culture, where direct identification of problematic behavior is more valued than excessive politeness. Understanding these nuances helps you communicate not just grammatically correct Chinese, but culturally appropriate Chinese that reflects the deeper values and thinking patterns of Chinese speakers.

🎯 Advanced Chinese Polite Requests & Modern Culture Mastery

Develop sophisticated skills in Chinese polite requests and contemporary expressions. Master the art of making courteous requests, understanding modern Chinese slang, and using these structures for professional and social communication. Build fluency in complex sentence structures that are central to advanced Chinese expression and cultural understanding.

For students ready to dive deeper

📖 Reading Practice

📖 礼貌请求与现代表达练习 - Polite Requests & Modern Expressions Practice

Wǒ de gēge bǐ wǒ dà yī suì.
我的哥哥比我大一岁。
Qǐng gàosu wǒ.
请告诉我。
Qǐng gàosu wǒ, nǐ xǐhuān zhè bù diànyǐng ma?
请告诉我你喜欢这部电影吗?
Qǐng gàosu wǒ nǐ de xiǎngfǎ.
请告诉我你的想法。
Qǐng gàosu wǒ guānyú nǐ nǚpéngyou de shìqing.
请告诉我关于你女朋友的事情。
Qǐng gàosu wǒ nǐ de mìmì.
请告诉我你的秘密。
Qǐng gàosu wǒ nǐ de yínháng mìmǎ.
请告诉我你的银行密码。
Gòngtóng yínháng zhànghù.
共同银行账户。
Zhā nán.
渣男。
Xīnjī nǚ.
心机女。
Zhā nǚ.
渣女。
Lǜchá.
绿茶。
Lǜchá biǎo.
绿茶婊。
Nín yào zhùcè gōngsī ma?
您要注册公司吗?

📝 Vocabulary from this reading:

qǐng
Please
告诉
gàosu
Tell/Inform
Than
想法
xiǎngfǎ
Opinion/Thought
秘密
mìmì
Secret
银行
yínháng
Bank
密码
mìmǎ
Password
共同
gòngtóng
Joint/Common
账户
zhànghù
Account
渣男
zhā nán
Scumbag man
心机
xīnjī
Calculating/Manipulative
渣女
zhā nǚ
Scumbag woman
绿茶
lǜchá
Green tea/Slang
注册
zhùcè
Register
公司
gōngsī
Company

📚 Additional Learning Content

💎 Chinese Polite Requests & Modern Culture Communication Patterns

Polite requests and modern expressions in Chinese are more than just grammar—they're a reflection of how Chinese speakers think about respect, social relationships, and contemporary cultural values. Understanding the cultural context behind 请告诉我 and modern slang helps you communicate more naturally and appreciate the philosophical differences between Chinese and Western approaches to politeness and social interaction.

Polite Request Culture in Daily Chinese Life

Everyday Usage Patterns & Social Context
Polite request expressions are central to Chinese daily communication
• 请告诉我 is used constantly for information requests
• Chinese speakers prioritize politeness in formal situations
• Polite requests help maintain social harmony
• Understanding these patterns is essential for natural Chinese

Social Relationship Indicators
Polite request expressions reveal social dynamics and respect levels
• 请告诉我你的想法 = Shows respect for opinions
• 请告诉我你的秘密 = Demonstrates trust and intimacy
• 请告诉我关于你女朋友的事情 = Indicates personal relationship interest
• Polite requests often reveal cultural values and priorities

Modern Chinese Slang Philosophy

Chinese vs Western Social Expression Concepts
Understanding different approaches to social criticism and slang
• Chinese slang emphasizes direct social criticism
• 渣男/渣女 = Direct labels for despicable people
• 绿茶 = Subtle criticism of manipulation
• Chinese language reflects values of social awareness

Social Awareness Over Politeness
Chinese prioritizes social awareness over excessive politeness
• 渣男 = Directly identifies problematic behavior
• 绿茶 = Criticizes manipulation tactics
• 心机女 = Points out calculated behavior
• This reflects Chinese cultural emphasis on social awareness

Advanced Polite Request & Modern Expression Applications

Complex Communication & Cultural Understanding
Using polite requests and modern expressions for sophisticated communication
• Combine requests: 请告诉我你的想法,请告诉我你的秘密
• Express social awareness: 他是渣男,她是绿茶
• Create contrast scenarios: 请告诉我关于好人和坏人的事情
• Polite requests and modern expressions enable rich, detailed communication

Professional & Academic Usage
Polite requests and modern expressions in formal and educational contexts
• Business communication: 请告诉我您的需求 (Please tell me your needs)
• Academic writing: 请告诉我您的研究结果 (Please tell me your research results)
• Formal presentations: 请告诉我您的意见 (Please tell me your opinion)
• Polite requests and modern expressions are essential for professional Chinese

作业 Homework & Practice

📝 Homework for next class:

1. 🔄 Polite Request Practice: Use 请告诉我 to make polite requests for information, opinions, and personal details in your daily life

2. 🗣️ Modern Slang Role-play: Practice using contemporary Chinese slang like 渣男, 绿茶, and 心机女 in appropriate social contexts

3. 🥢 Cultural Comparison Practice: Create scenarios comparing polite requests vs direct questions using 请告诉我 structures

4. 📱 Social Awareness Expression: Practice expressing social awareness using modern Chinese slang appropriately

5. 🤝 Professional Scenarios: Plan and describe business situations using both polite requests and formal expressions

6. 🎯 Advanced Usage: Practice using polite requests and modern expressions in complex sentence structures

💡 Cultural Challenge: Pay attention to how Chinese speakers use 请告诉我 and modern slang in daily conversation - notice when they emphasize politeness and when they prioritize social awareness through direct expressions!

Practice Checklist:

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