"I can speak X languages." is a great way to impress someone from a monolingual background.
Were I a little bolder, everytime I am approached by this cliché, I would really like to say:
"No, you don't! Because you can speak a language only when:
- You can think in that language instead of doing the mental translation.
- You can watch a whole movie/ TV show in that language without resorting to the subtitles.
- You can write essays in that language without being frowned upon by native speakers.
- You can read a book on something you are interested in, in that language."
And the list goes on. Tell me that I'm too demanding, but I don't think HSK4 or N3 certificate is equal to "being able to speak Chinese/ Japanese".
People can boast as they like, but I have my standards and I stand by them.
