It's like this:

I like when Chinese people begin an explanation. You'll ask a question, and if the answer seems particularly complicated or may require several sentences to make clear, they'll start out with a little hand gesture: both hands extended sideways in front of them, palms open, fingers together, like they're framing two sides of a box.

"Shi zheyang," they'll say. "It's like this." And then they'll begin their explanation.

Careful, though--if your question is too direct, or too pointed, or if you accidentally asked about something they don't want to talk about, they'll get around it by saying, "Oh, that's 'bu hao shuo...' 'not good to talk about,' or sort of, 'it's hard to say'." They might say, "oh, everything's 'hai xing'...'it's fine, it's the same, it's still ok'." They'll wheeze and waffle a little, and assure you that everything is great while simultaneously managing to be a) completely vague and b) quite unenthusiastic and yet c) not awkward or particularly uncomfortable, or at least, not making you feel that way.

It's quite a talent. Pretty soon, you'll take the hint and drop the matter or change the subject.