20 Essential Chinese Filler Words: Sound Like a Native Between Sentences
When non-native speakers pause to think, they often produce unnatural English sounds (“uh…”, “um…”) or freeze in dead silence. Native Mandarin speakers rarely stay silent. They bridge conversational pauses with verbal lubricants (填充词 / Filler Words). Mastering these 20 filler words instantly makes your Mandarin sound 50% more natural. The Top 5 Universal Chinese Fillers 1. 那个 (nàge / nèige) Function: The ultimate Chinese equivalent of “um” or “that thing…”. Usage: Used when searching for a word or opening an informal request. “我想问一下，那个，明天的会议几点开始？” ...