How do you say "My Chinese isn't good" in Chinese?

"My Chinese isn't good" in Chinese is 我中文说得不好。 — written in pinyin as Wǒ Zhōngwén shuō de bù hǎo. It is an everyday phrase you would use in China.

What does 我中文说得不好。 mean in Chinese?

我中文说得不好。 (Wǒ Zhōngwén shuō de bù hǎo) means "My Chinese isn't good". Broken down word by word: 我 (wǒ) means "I / me"; 中文 (Zhōngwén) means "Chinese language"; 说 (shuō) means "to speak"; 得 (de) means "degree particle"; 不好 (bù hǎo) means "not good".

When would you use "My Chinese isn't good" in Chinese?

When you want to set expectations before the conversation goes wrong — a hotel desk, a clinic, a bank counter, or anyone who starts at full speed. Saying it up front works better than asking for a repeat later, because it changes how the other person picks their words from the first sentence.

How to say “My Chinese isn't good” in Chinese

“My Chinese isn't good” in Chinese is 我中文说得不好。, written in pinyin as Wǒ Zhōngwén shuō de bù hǎo.

我中文说得不好。

Wǒ Zhōngwén shuō de bù hǎo.

My Chinese isn't good.

Word by word

What each part of 我中文说得不好。 actually means.

我wǒI / me
中文ZhōngwénChinese language
说shuōto speak
得dedegree particle
不好bù hǎonot good

When you use it

When you want to set expectations before the conversation goes wrong — a hotel desk, a clinic, a bank counter, or anyone who starts at full speed.
Saying it up front works better than asking for a repeat later, because it changes how the other person picks their words from the first sentence.

Use 我中文说得不好。 in everyday situations. Greetings, thanks and the small words you use all day.

Other ways people say it

The same idea, said differently. Roughly in the order you'll hear them.

我的中文一般。
Wǒ de Zhōngwén yìbān
My Chinese is so-so.
一般 is the standard Chinese way of saying 'nothing special'. It is more understated, and more native-sounding, than 不好.
我听得懂一点。
Wǒ tīng de dǒng yìdiǎn
I understand a little.
听得懂 is 'hear and understand'. Splitting 听 (hear) from 懂 (understand) is what lets you tell people which half is failing.
请说慢一点可以吗？
Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn kěyǐ ma?
Could you speak a little more slowly?
The slow-down request framed as a question, which gives the other person room to decline. Easier to say to a stranger than a bare 请说慢一点.

What usually trips people up

The 得 is doing real work. It links 说 to how well the speaking is done, so 说得不好 reports on this conversation rather than on your ceiling. Drop it and 我说不好 starts to sound like a verdict on yourself.
The answer you will get is 你中文说得很好, and it is politeness rather than a measurement. Agreeing looks odd and arguing looks worse; 谢谢，还在学 is what the line expects.
No apology is needed. Chinese has no fixed version of 'sorry, my Chinese is bad' as an opener, and adding 对不起 turns a neutral request into a confession about a language you are still learning.

What you might hear back

没关系，慢慢说。Méiguānxi, mànman shuōNo problem, take your time.
你中文说得很好！Nǐ Zhōngwén shuō de hěn hǎo!Your Chinese is really good!
我说英文可以吗？Wǒ shuō Yīngwén kěyǐ ma?Can I speak English?

Common questions

How do you say "My Chinese isn't good" in Chinese?: "My Chinese isn't good" in Chinese is 我中文说得不好。 — written in pinyin as Wǒ Zhōngwén shuō de bù hǎo. It is an everyday phrase you would use in China.
What does 我中文说得不好。 mean in Chinese?: 我中文说得不好。 (Wǒ Zhōngwén shuō de bù hǎo) means "My Chinese isn't good". Broken down word by word: 我 (wǒ) means "I / me"; 中文 (Zhōngwén) means "Chinese language"; 说 (shuō) means "to speak"; 得 (de) means "degree particle"; 不好 (bù hǎo) means "not good".
When would you use "My Chinese isn't good" in Chinese?: When you want to set expectations before the conversation goes wrong — a hotel desk, a clinic, a bank counter, or anyone who starts at full speed. Saying it up front works better than asking for a repeat later, because it changes how the other person picks their words from the first sentence.

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