That's interesting
Neutral Depends on context
What it really means
A very common polite response to an idea or story. It often suggests the speaker does not really agree, or is not very interested, but wants to avoid saying so directly. Sometimes it is genuine, so watch the tone and what comes next.
Chinese explanation
对别人的想法或故事最常见的礼貌回应。很多时候暗示说话人其实并不同意，或不太感兴趣，只是不想直说。有时也是真心的，要结合语气和后面的话来判断。
Example conversation
A: I think we should paint the whole office bright orange.
B: Hmm, that's interesting.
A: You hate it, don't you?
A：我觉得我们应该把整个办公室刷成亮橙色。
B：嗯，挺有意思的。
A：你其实不喜欢，对吧？
What you could say back
Related phrases
All Politeness Decoder
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake