Basic expressions: Expressions

💬 [不] is usually read (bù), but before a falling-tone syllable it changes to (bú). So [不是] is said (bú shì).

🇨🇳 [请] often sounds more natural when you add what you want: [请问] to get someone's attention politely, or [请帮我] for 'please help me.' On its own, it can feel a bit abrupt.

🇨🇳 [不好意思] is the everyday softener for small things: getting past someone, calling attention, minor embarrassment, or a light apology. It's often gentler and more natural in daily life than [对不起].

🇨🇳 [对不起] is a stronger apology, used when you've really inconvenienced someone or done something wrong. For small bumps or to get someone's attention, people often prefer [不好意思].

💬 Repeating the verb in [帮帮我] makes the request sound softer and more pleading than plain [帮我]. You'll hear this with other short verbs too, like [看看] 'take a look.'