Movie clichés & stock lines in Chinese 老套台词
lǎotào táicí
Clichéd lines in Chinese is 老套台词 (lǎo tào tái cí).
Also searched for as: movie clichés, cliché lines, stock phrases in films, famous movie lines, cheesy lines.
The lines you've heard in a hundred films. 15 essential movie clichés & stock lines 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.
Every film industry has its stock lines, and Chinese films and dramas are no exception. A cliché is 老套 (lǎo tào), and a line of dialogue is a 台词 (tái cí). Some will sound very familiar: 不是你想的那样 (bù shì nǐ xiǎng de nà yàng), "it's not what it looks like", 相信我 (xiāng xìn wǒ), "trust me", and 我们分头行动 (wǒ men fēn tóu xíng dòng), "let's split up", which is always a terrible idea.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 老套 | lǎo tào | clichéd; hackneyed |
| 台词 | tái cí | line (of dialogue) |
| 不是你想的那样 | bù shì nǐ xiǎng de nà yàng | it's not what it looks like |
| 我可以解释 | wǒ kě yǐ jiě shì | I can explain |
| 你听我说 | nǐ tīng wǒ shuō | listen to me |
| 快跑 | kuài pǎo | run! |
| 我们分头行动 | wǒ men fēn tóu xíng dòng | let's split up |
| 相信我 | xiāng xìn wǒ | trust me |
| 这是最后一次 | zhè shì zuì hòu yī cì | this is the last time |
| 你走吧 | nǐ zǒu ba | just go; leave |
| 别管我了 | bié guǎn wǒ le | forget about me; go on without me |
| 我们还会再见面的 | wǒ men hái huì zài jiàn miàn de | we'll see each other again |
| 不好的预感 | bù hǎo de yù gǎn | bad feeling; sense of foreboding |
| 你还好吗 | nǐ hái hǎo ma | are you OK? |
| 等等我 | děng deng wǒ | wait for me |
Usage tips
- Many of these lines are used jokingly in real life. Saying 我有一种不好的预感 (wǒ yǒu yī zhǒng bù hǎo de yù gǎn) before an exam, or 别管我了，你们快走 (bié guǎn wǒ le, nǐ men kuài zǒu) when you're lagging behind on a hike, gets a laugh because everyone knows the trope.
- Small words change the mood: 你走吧 (nǐ zǒu ba) is a resigned "just go", 你走 (nǐ zǒu) on its own sounds harsher, and 你快走 (nǐ kuài zǒu) is urgent, "go, quickly".
- 台词 (tái cí) refers to scripted lines in films, plays and TV. A memorable line that everyone repeats is a 经典台词 (jīng diǎn tái cí), "classic line".
Common mistakes
- Learners use 老 (lǎo) alone to mean clichéd, as in 这个故事很老. For a tired, predictable plot, say 老套 (lǎo tào); 老 just means old.
- 我可以解释 (wǒ kě yǐ jiě shì) is correct, but in real arguments people more often say 你听我解释 (nǐ tīng wǒ jiě shì), "let me explain", which sounds more natural and urgent.
Mini dialogue
- A这部电影太老套了。Zhè bù diàn yǐng tài lǎo tào le.This film is so clichéd.
- B为什么这么说？Wèi shén me zhè me shuō?Why do you say that?
- A你看，他们马上就要说“我们分头行动”了。Nǐ kàn, tā men mǎ shàng jiù yào shuō "wǒ men fēn tóu xíng dòng" le.Look, they're about to say "let's split up".
- B哈哈，真的说了！我有一种不好的预感。Hā hā, zhēn de shuō le! Wǒ yǒu yī zhǒng bù hǎo de yù gǎn.Haha, they actually said it! I've got a bad feeling.
- A下一句肯定是“相信我”。Xià yī jù kěn dìng shì "xiāng xìn wǒ".The next line is bound to be "trust me".
Example sentences
- 这种台词也太老套了。That kind of line is so clichéd.
- 这句台词我听过一百遍了。I've heard this line a hundred times.
- 每次都是一句“不是你想的那样”。Every time it's "It's not what it looks like."
- 你先别生气，我可以解释！Don't get angry, I can explain!
- 你听我说，事情没那么简单。Listen to me, it's not that simple.
- 快跑！它追上来了！Run! It's coming after us!
- 只要有人说“我们分头行动”，准出事。As soon as someone says "let's split up", something goes wrong.
- 相信我，这次不会有事的。Trust me, nothing will go wrong this time.
- 我保证，这是最后一次。I promise, this is the last time.
- 你走吧，我不想再看到你。Just go, I don't want to see you again.
- 别管我了，你们快走！Forget about me, go!
- 放心，我们还会再见面的。Don't worry, we'll see each other again.
- 我突然有一种不好的预感。I've suddenly got a bad feeling.
- 你还好吗？要不要叫救护车？Are you OK? Shall I call an ambulance?
- 等等我！别丢下我！Wait for me! Don't leave me behind!
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Movie clichés & stock lines speaking island has 8 everyday questions about movie clichés & stock lines to prepare your own answers to.