Work 3
Under pressure!
In English, we’d say I’m under a lot of pressure. In Chinese, you would say something more like My pressure is big. You can use the same word for big, 大 , to describe how much pressure there is.
我的工作压力很大。
(Wǒ de gōngzuò yālì hěn dà.) I am under a lot of pressure at work recently. Literal: My work pressure is big.
别给他太大压力。
(Bié gěi tā tài dà yālì.) Don't put too much pressure on him. Literal: Don’t give him too big pressure.
这个工作工资高，但是压力很大。
(Zhège gōngzuò gōngzī gāo, dànshì yālì hěn dà.) This job has a high salary, but with great pressure. Literal: This job’s salary is high, but the pressure is big.
Do you need my opinion?
意见 (yìjiàn, opinion) means opinion in Chinese.
你需要我的意见吗？
(Nǐ xūyào wǒ de yìjiàn ma?) Do you need my opinion?
When talking about a specific topic, add 对 before the thing you want their opinion on.
你对这件事情有什么意见？
(Nǐ duì zhè jiàn shìqíng yǒu shéme yìjiàn?) What is your opinion regarding this matter?
Say you’re sorry!
How do you say sorry in Chinese? There are a few ways! We’ve already seen that you can use 不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi, sorry) or 对不起 (duìbùqǐ, sorry) to say sorry.
不好意思，我需要去洗手间。
(Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ xūyào qù xǐshǒujiān.) I'm sorry, I need to go to the restroom.
我很忙，对不起！
(Wǒ hěn máng, duìbùqǐ!) I am busy, sorry!
To make a more formal apology, you can use 抱歉 (bàoqiàn, apologies).
抱歉，请原谅我们。
(Bàoqiàn, qǐng yuánliàng wǒmen.) Apologies. Please forgive us.