<p>You can try the following sentences which demonstrate humility:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>不好意思，我的中文水平尚浅，有待跟您多多学习。<br>
Sorry, my Chinese language skill is still shallow, there is still a lot to learn from you.</p></li>
<li><p>我的中文只不过马马虎虎而已，请您多多包涵。<br>
My Chinese is just so-so only, please bear with me.</p></li>
<li><p>我的中文说得不好，请别见怪。<br>
I am not good at speaking Mandarin, hope you don't mind.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>If someone is praising your language ability, you can express in the following manners immediately after the compliments:</p>

<ul>
<li>哪里，哪里... (Nah, you think too highly of me...)</li>
<li>您过奖了。 (You flatter me.)</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-04T04:26:52.500Z
I noticed a small error, 包含 should be 包涵. 包含 is actually "include, contain".
Mike Manilone
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-04T04:40:34.613Z
These seem rather formal to me.
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-04T04:53:31.820Z
@MikeManilone, I have made the change. Thanks for pointing it out :)
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-04T07:48:46.030Z
+1 for the last ones.
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-04T21:03:44.997Z
What does 'where got' mean? Never heard of it. Edit: Upon further research, looks like it is Singaporean slang. I'd avoid using it here as it's not understood by anyone outside that area. (I assume you live in Singapore).
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-05T02:21:27.600Z
@JamesJiao, I try to follow the Chinese meaning as close as possible. Thanks for pointing out the mistake, hope it's better now :p
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-05T17:37:31.840Z
@JamesJiao You're right that "Where got" is weird, but I'd like to point out that `哪里` is quite normal.
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-05T20:52:25.790Z
@StumpyJoePete Yes. I was only inquiring about the English. Had no problem with the Chinese ;).
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-04T02:59:58.347Z
2012-10-05T02:13:46.260Z
2012-10-05T02:13:46.260Z
杨以轩
<p>Short and sweet:</p>

<ul>
<li>没有，没有。 No, no, [it's not so good].</li>
</ul>

<p>江南 style:</p>

<ul>
<li>我[中文]还讲得一般般。 I still don't speak that great.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-04T04:41:50.697Z
2012-10-04T04:41:50.697Z
Stumpy Joe Pete
<p>I suggest you say </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>其实还好啦 (qi shi hai hao la) - It's actually just ok!</p>
</blockquote>

<p>It's very casual and easy going. I don't suggest you say something too formal, too humble or too complicated :)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-06T03:42:31.907Z
2012-10-06T03:42:31.907Z
AGamePlayer
<p>I had an early-intermediate textbook where the character who was learning responded, "还差得远呢".</p>

<p>Be careful that you don't make your self-deprecation too impressive or advanced (at least relative to your actual level), that could send a mixed signal!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-07T03:47:45.593Z
2012-10-07T03:47:45.593Z
Philip Ries
<p>You could try as a response:
谢谢可是我仅知道很少汉语
Xièxiè kěshì wǒ jǐn zhīdào hěn shǎo hànyǔ</p>

<p>I always forget which to put at the end but it is something I have use well still learning</p>

<p>But if you answer James question he will probably give you something much better :P</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-04T21:05:35.213Z
It's ok, but sounds very awkward to my ears.
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-04T02:31:40.197Z
2012-10-04T02:31:40.197Z
Scott
<p>I live in an area where there are many Chinese so I get plenty of opportunity to use my language skills including shopping, eating at restaurants and meeting new people.</p>

<p>The Chinese people I meet are always complimentary about my language skill although I think it is quite average.</p>

<p>What are some different ways I can express to people that I feel my skill level is not very good?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-04T01:54:40.180Z
Can you clarify the purpose of expressing that?
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-04T02:30:21.733Z
@NS.X. Self-deprecating when someone compliments you on something is a proper Chinese way to show politeness.
Nihil
<word-choice><phrase>
What are some ways that I can be self-deprecating about my Chinese speaking ability?
# What are some ways that I can be self-deprecating about my Chinese speaking ability?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-10-04)

I live in an area where there are many Chinese so I get plenty of opportunity to use my language skills including shopping, eating at restaurants and meeting new people.

The Chinese people I meet are always complimentary about my language skill although I think it is quite average.

What are some different ways I can express to people that I feel my skill level is not very good?

**Tags:** word-choice, phrase

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Can you clarify the purpose of expressing that?  
> **username_2**: @username_1 Self-deprecating when someone compliments you on something is a proper Chinese way to show politeness.  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-10-04. Score: 5

You can try the following sentences which demonstrate humility:

* 不好意思，我的中文水平尚浅，有待跟您多多学习。  
  Sorry, my Chinese language skill is still shallow, there is still a lot to learn from you.
* 我的中文只不过马马虎虎而已，请您多多包涵。  
  My Chinese is just so-so only, please bear with me.
* 我的中文说得不好，请别见怪。  
  I am not good at speaking Mandarin, hope you don't mind.

If someone is praising your language ability, you can express in the following manners immediately after the compliments:

* 哪里，哪里... (Nah, you think too highly of me...)
* 您过奖了。 (You flatter me.)

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I noticed a small error, 包含 should be 包涵. 包含 is actually "include, contain".  
> **username_5**: These seem rather formal to me.  
> **username_3**: @MikeManilone, I have made the change. Thanks for pointing it out :)  
> **username_5**: +1 for the last ones.  
> **username_6**: What does 'where got' mean? Never heard of it. Edit: Upon further research, looks like it is Singaporean slang. I'd avoid using it here as it's not understood by anyone outside that area. (I assume you live in Singapore).  
> **username_3**: @JamesJiao, I try to follow the Chinese meaning as close as possible. Thanks for pointing out the mistake, hope it's better now :p  
> **username_5**: @JamesJiao You're right that "Where got" is weird, but I'd like to point out that `哪里` is quite normal.  
> **username_6**: @StumpyJoePete Yes. I was only inquiring about the English. Had no problem with the Chinese ;).  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2012-10-04. Score: 2

Short and sweet:

* 没有，没有。 No, no, [it's not so good].

江南 style:

* 我[中文]还讲得一般般。 I still don't speak that great.


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2012-10-06. Score: 2

I suggest you say

> 其实还好啦 (qi shi hai hao la) - It's actually just ok!

It's very casual and easy username_0. I don't suggest you say something too formal, too humble or too complicated :)


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2012-10-07. Score: 1

I had an early-intermediate textbook where the character who was learning responded, "还差得远呢".

Be careful that you don't make your self-deprecation too impressive or advanced (at least relative to your actual level), that could send a mixed signal!


---

### Answer by username_9 on 2012-10-04. Score: 0

You could try as a response:
谢谢可是我仅知道很少汉语
Xièxiè kěshì wǒ jǐn zhīdào hěn shǎo hànyǔ

I always forget which to put at the end but it is something I have use well still learning

But if you answer James question he will probably give you something much better :P

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: It's ok, but sounds very awkward to my ears.  

---

