Situation
Someone keeps texting late at night when you are trying to rest.
Set a small boundary without accusing the other person.
Natural American English
“I’m usually offline after ten, so I may not reply until the morning.”
自然中文 · Natural Mandarin
“我十点以后一般就不怎么看手机了，可能要到早上才回复。”
Wǒ shí diǎn yǐhòu yìbān jiù bù zěnme kàn shǒujī le, kěnéng yào dào zǎoshang cái huífù.
Literal translation
After ten I generally do not really look at my phone; I may only reply in the morning.
Tone
Calm, respectful, and matter-of-fact.
Culture
Boundaries work best when they explain what you will do, not when they try to control the other person’s choices.
What lands
Describe your own pattern instead of labeling their behavior as wrong.
Try it
A classmate expects immediate replies at night. How could you set an expectation?
Reveal a natural response
“I’m usually offline after ten, so I may not reply until the morning.”
Common mistake: “Don’t text me late” can sound sharp. Give the same information in a way that focuses on your availability.