Filler Words in Chinese: What Natural Speech Sounds Like
那个 nàge — well / um / like
One of the most well-known filler words in Chinese is 那个 nàge.
Usually, 那个 means “that” or “that one,” but in spoken Chinese it is often used as a pause when a person is thinking about what to say next.
那个……我想问你一个问题。
nàge… wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ yí ge wèntí.
Well… I want to ask you a question.
那个……今天我没有时间。
nàge… jīntiān wǒ méi yǒu shíjiān.
Um… I don’t have time today.
那个……我不太明白。
nàge… wǒ bú tài míngbai.
Well… I don’t quite understand.
In natural speech, 那个 can appear very often. It helps create a pause while the speaker is choosing their words.
Important: in formal speaking or exams, it is better not to overuse 那个, so your speech does not sound too drawn out.
嗯 ēn — uh-huh / mm / yes
嗯 ēn is a very common interjection in Chinese speech. It is used when listening to someone, agreeing, or showing that you are thinking.
嗯，我知道。
ēn, wǒ zhīdào.
Uh-huh, I know.
嗯，可以。
ēn, kěyǐ.
Yes, that works / okay.
嗯……我觉得这个有点难。
ēn… wǒ juéde zhè ge yǒudiǎn nán.
Mm… I think this is a little difficult.
嗯 can sound like a short “yes,” “uh-huh,” or a pause for thinking.
啊 a — ah / well / emotional particle
啊 a often appears in spoken Chinese. It is a particle that can soften a phrase, make it sound more lively, or express emotion.
好啊！
hǎo a!
Great! / Sure!
可以啊。
kěyǐ a.
Sure, of course.
你去哪儿啊？
nǐ qù nǎr a?
Where are you going?
这个很好吃啊。
zhè ge hěn hǎochī a.
This is really tasty.
啊 is not always translated literally. Very often, it simply makes the phrase softer and more natural.
哎呀 āiyā — oh / oops / oh no
哎呀 āiyā expresses emotion: surprise, annoyance, irritation, sympathy, or something unexpected.
哎呀，我忘了！
āiyā, wǒ wàng le!
Oh, I forgot!
哎呀，太贵了！
āiyā, tài guì le!
Oh, it’s too expensive!
哎呀，没关系。
āiyā, méi guānxi.
Oh, it’s okay.
哎呀，今天又下雨了。
āiyā, jīntiān yòu xià yǔ le.
Oh no, it’s raining again today.
This word often sounds very lively and emotional.
就是 jiùshì — that is / well / exactly
就是 jiùshì literally means “exactly” or “that is.” But in spoken Chinese, it is often used as a linking word, similar to “that is,” “well,” or “basically.”
我觉得中文很有意思，就是有点难。
wǒ juéde Zhōngwén hěn yǒu yìsi, jiùshì yǒudiǎn nán.
I think Chinese is very interesting, it’s just a little difficult.
我想去，就是没有时间。
wǒ xiǎng qù, jiùshì méi yǒu shíjiān.
I want to go, it’s just that I don’t have time.
就是……我不知道怎么说。
jiùshì… wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme shuō.
Well… I don’t know how to say it.
If you use 就是 too often, it can sound like a filler word. But in moderation, it helps connect your thoughts.
然后 ránhòu — then / after that / and then
然后 ránhòu means “then” or “after that.” It is a normal and useful word, but in spoken Chinese people often repeat it too many times, like “and then” or “and after that.”
我早上起床，然后吃早饭，然后去学校。
wǒ zǎoshang qǐchuáng, ránhòu chī zǎofàn, ránhòu qù xuéxiào.
In the morning, I get up, then have breakfast, then go to school.
You can say this, but if you repeat 然后 in every sentence, your speech becomes monotonous.
It is better to sometimes replace it with other words:
以后
yǐhòu
after that / later
接着
jiēzhe
then / next
最后
zuìhòu
in the end / finally
我早上起床，吃早饭，然后去学校。
wǒ zǎoshang qǐchuáng, chī zǎofàn, ránhòu qù xuéxiào.
In the morning, I get up, have breakfast, and then go to school.
This sounds more natural.
这个 zhè ge — this / this one / well
这个 zhè ge usually means “this” or “this one.” But sometimes in spoken Chinese, it is used as a pause, similar to 那个.
这个……我还没想好。
zhè ge… wǒ hái méi xiǎng hǎo.
Well… I haven’t decided yet.
这个……有点难。
zhè ge… yǒudiǎn nán.
This… is a little difficult.
这个 can sound a bit softer when a person is thinking or not sure about the answer.
怎么说呢 zěnme shuō ne — how should I put it?
A very useful conversational phrase is 怎么说呢. It means “how should I say it,” “how should I put it,” or “how can I explain this?”
怎么说呢，我觉得这个电影不错。
zěnme shuō ne, wǒ juéde zhè ge diànyǐng búcuò.
How should I put it… I think this movie is pretty good.
怎么说呢，这个问题有点复杂。
zěnme shuō ne, zhè ge wèntí yǒudiǎn fùzá.
How should I put it… this question is a little complicated.
怎么说呢，我不太喜欢。
zěnme shuō ne, wǒ bú tài xǐhuan.
How should I put it… I don’t really like it.
This phrase sounds natural when you need to buy time and carefully formulate your thought.
对吧 duì ba — right? / isn’t it?
对吧 duì ba is often placed at the end of a phrase. It is similar to “right?”, “isn’t it?”, or “don’t you think?”
这个很简单，对吧？
zhè ge hěn jiǎndān, duì ba?
This is very simple, right?
你也喜欢中文，对吧？
nǐ yě xǐhuan Zhōngwén, duì ba?
You also like Chinese, right?
我们明天见，对吧？
wǒmen míngtiān jiàn, duì ba?
We’ll see each other tomorrow, right?
If you constantly end phrases with 对吧, it can sound pushy. But sometimes it helps involve the other person in the conversation.
是吧 shì ba — right? / isn’t that so?
是吧 shì ba is similar to 对吧, but literally it is closer to “is that so?” or “that’s right, isn’t it?”
他是你朋友，是吧？
tā shì nǐ péngyou, shì ba?
He is your friend, right?
今天很冷，是吧？
jīntiān hěn lěng, shì ba?
It’s cold today, isn’t it?
这个地方很漂亮，是吧？
zhè ge dìfang hěn piàoliang, shì ba?
This place is beautiful, right?
是吧 often sounds soft, but it is also better not to use it too often.
其实 qíshí — actually / in fact
其实 qíshí means “actually” or “in fact.” It is not exactly a filler word, but in spoken Chinese it is often used to express an opinion gently or slightly change the direction of the conversation.
其实，我不太喜欢咖啡。
qíshí, wǒ bú tài xǐhuan kāfēi.
Actually, I don’t really like coffee.
其实，中文没有那么难。
qíshí, Zhōngwén méi yǒu nàme nán.
Actually, Chinese is not that difficult.
其实，我觉得这个方法很好。
qíshí, wǒ juéde zhè ge fāngfǎ hěn hǎo.
Actually, I think this method is good.
其实 helps make a phrase softer and more natural.
How to Use These Words Correctly
Conversational words make speech lively, but it is important not to overdo them.
If you are just starting to learn Chinese, it is better to first learn how to build simple, clean sentences:
我学习中文。
wǒ xuéxí Zhōngwén.
I study Chinese.
我喜欢喝茶。
wǒ xǐhuan hē chá.
I like drinking tea.
我今天没有时间。
wǒ jīntiān méi yǒu shíjiān.
I don’t have time today.
And then gradually add conversational elements:
嗯，我学习中文。
ēn, wǒ xuéxí Zhōngwén.
Uh-huh, I study Chinese.
其实，我喜欢喝茶。
qíshí, wǒ xǐhuan hē chá.
Actually, I like drinking tea.
那个……我今天没有时间。
nàge… wǒ jīntiān méi yǒu shíjiān.
Well… I don’t have time today.
This way, your speech starts to sound more natural while still remaining clear.
Filler words and conversational connectors exist not only in Russian, but also in Chinese. The most common ones include 那个, 嗯, 啊, 哎呀, 就是, 然后, 这个, 怎么说呢, 对吧, 是吧, and 其实.
They help make speech more lively, express emotion, buy time, or connect thoughts more softly. But it is important to use them in moderation.
For beginners, it is better to first build simple sentences confidently and then gradually add conversational elements. This way, your Chinese speech will sound natural but not overloaded.