A team discussion has hit a wall. Nobody has the full picture yet, but the conversation can't stall forever — someone needs to say "let's try this approach for now and revisit it later." That moment is exactly where 姑且 (gūqiě) belongs.
姑且 (gūqiě) means "for the time being" or "tentatively." You place it before a verb to signal a reluctant or temporary action — you are making do for now, not committing to a final decision. The structure is simple: 姑且 + Verb.
Consider this example:
他的说法虽然有疑点，但我们姑且相信他吧。
(tā de shuō fǎ suī rán yǒu yí diǎn, dàn wǒ men gū qiě xiāng xìn tā ba.)
"His story has some holes, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt for now."
Here, 姑且 softens the verb 相信 — you are not fully convinced, but you will go along with it temporarily. You can also use it to table difficult topics, as in 这个问题我们姑且放一放 (zhège wèntí wǒmen gūqiě fàng yí fàng) — "Let's set this problem aside for the time being."
This HSK 6 speaking lesson focuses on one grammar pattern: 姑且 (gūqiě). In roughly 10 minutes, you talk out loud with AI teacher Mei Lin in real-time voice conversation — no typing. Mei Lin presents scenarios like work meetings or everyday discussions where you need to suggest provisional solutions, table difficult topics, and propose tentative plans. She corrects your grammar and pronunciation in the flow of conversation and adapts to your level.
By the end, you will be able to say things like "let's go with this for now" or "setting that aside for the moment" naturally in Mandarin. You can explore more HSK 6 lessons to continue building advanced grammar skills.
Ready to practice? Your first lesson is free to start. You can also try another HSK 6 live lesson on 哪怕 (nǎpà) for emphatic concessions, or the HSK 6 lesson on 乃 (nǎi) for stating undeniable truths. To reinforce your writing, use the free printable Chinese worksheet generator for handwriting practice with HSK 1–3 vocabulary.
姑且 (gūqiě) means "for the time being" or "tentatively." You place it before a verb to show that an action is a temporary measure — you are making do for now rather than making a final commitment. For example, in 这个问题我们姑且放一放 (zhège wèntí wǒmen gūqiě fàng yí fàng), it signals "let's set this problem aside for the time being."
In this HSK 6 speaking lesson, you talk out loud with AI teacher Mei Lin in real-time voice conversation. She presents scenarios where you need to suggest provisional solutions or table difficult topics using 姑且 (gūqiě), and she corrects your grammar and pronunciation as you speak. The lesson takes about 10 minutes and targets this single pattern.
姑且 (gūqiě) works in both work meetings and everyday conversations. You can use it to propose tentative plans like "let's go with this for now" or to set something aside temporarily. The lesson trains you to use it naturally in both professional and casual contexts.
This is an HSK 6 lesson, so it is designed for advanced learners. If you are newer to Mandarin, you can start with HSK 1–3 content and work your way up. The free Chinese worksheet generator offers ready-made packs for HSK 1–3 vocabulary to build your foundation.