Giving advice in Chinese 给建议
gěi jiànyì
Advice in Chinese is 建议 (jiàn yì).
Also searched for as: advice, suggestion, recommend, you should, tips, if I were you.
Helping a friend work out what to do. 15 essential giving advice words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
To give advice in Chinese, the simplest starter is 你应该 (nǐ yīng gāi), "you should", but natives often prefer softer options like 我建议 (wǒ jiàn yì), "I suggest", or 最好 (zuì hǎo), "it's best to". For more personal advice, 要是我是你 (yào shi wǒ shì nǐ), "if I were you", works much as in English, and when a friend is upset, 想开点儿 (xiǎng kāi diǎnr), "don't take it so hard", is a kind thing to say.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 建议 | jiàn yì | suggestion; to suggest |
| 我建议 | wǒ jiàn yì | I suggest |
| 你应该 | nǐ yīng gāi | you should |
| 最好 | zuì hǎo | had better; it's best to |
| 要是我是你 | yào shi wǒ shì nǐ | if I were you |
| 不如 | bù rú | might as well; would be better to |
| 劝 | quàn | to advise; to urge |
| 听我的 | tīng wǒ de | take it from me |
| 千万别 | qiān wàn bié | whatever you do, don't |
| 试试 | shì shi | to give it a try |
| 办法 | bàn fǎ | way; solution |
| 想开点儿 | xiǎng kāi diǎnr | don't take it so hard |
| 别想太多 | bié xiǎng tài duō | don't overthink it |
| 过来人 | guò lái rén | someone who's been there |
| 参考 | cān kǎo | for reference; to take into account |
Usage tips
- 最好 goes after the subject and before the verb: 你最好先问问他 (nǐ zuì hǎo xiān wèn wen tā), you'd better ask him first.
- 千万 (qiān wàn) adds strong emphasis: 千万别 (qiān wàn bié), whatever you do, don't; 千万要记住 (qiān wàn yào jì zhu), make sure you remember.
- Ending with 你参考一下 (nǐ cān kǎo yī xià), "just something to consider", makes your advice sound less pushy.
Common mistakes
- Saying 我给你一个意见 for "let me give you some advice": 意见 can sound like a complaint → say 我给你一个建议 (wǒ gěi nǐ yī ge jiàn yì).
- Overusing 你应该 with elders or a boss can sound bossy → soften it with 您可以试试 (nín kě yǐ shì shi), you could try, or 要不 (yào bù), how about.
- Leaving out 就 after 要是我是你 → natives say 要是我是你，我就…… (yào shi wǒ shì nǐ, wǒ jiù...), if I were you, I'd...
Mini dialogue
- A我最近总是睡不好，怎么办？Wǒ zuì jìn zǒng shì shuì bu hǎo, zěn me bàn?I keep sleeping badly lately. What should I do?
- B我建议你晚上少看手机。Wǒ jiàn yì nǐ wǎn shang shǎo kàn shǒu jī.I suggest you spend less time on your phone in the evenings.
- A我试过了，还是不行。Wǒ shì guo le, hái shi bù xíng.I've tried that, it still doesn't work.
- B那你最好去看看医生。别想太多，总会有办法的。Nà nǐ zuì hǎo qù kàn kan yī shēng. Bié xiǎng tài duō, zǒng huì yǒu bàn fǎ de.Then you'd better see a doctor. Don't overthink it, there's always a way.
- A好，听你的。Hǎo, tīng nǐ de.OK, I'll take your advice.
Example sentences
- 你有什么建议吗？Have you got any suggestions?
- 我建议你早点儿睡。I suggest you go to bed earlier.
- 你应该去看看医生。You should go and see a doctor.
- 你最好先问问他。You'd better ask him first.
- 要是我是你，我就不去了。If I were you, I wouldn't go.
- 不如我们打车去吧。We might as well get a taxi.
- 我劝你别买了。Take my advice and don't buy it.
- 听我的，买这个没错。Take it from me, you can't go wrong with this one.
- 你千万别告诉她。Whatever you do, don't tell her.
- 你可以试试这个办法。You could try this approach.
- 总会有办法的。There's always a way.
- 想开点儿，别太在意。Don't take it so hard, try not to let it get to you.
- 别想太多，早点儿休息。Don't overthink it, get some rest.
- 作为过来人，我告诉你。As someone who's been there, let me tell you.
- 这只是我的意见，你参考一下。It's just my opinion, take it or leave it.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Giving advice speaking island has 8 everyday questions about giving advice to prepare your own answers to.