First, a quick clarification: The following are not hidden features or mysterious shortcuts, but prompt templates you can paste directly into the Gemini chat box. Clearly stating the task, context, constraints, and output format usually yields responses closer to your needs. Google’s prompt design guide also recommends using clear, specific instructions and iteratively refining prompts based on results.[1]
Many people only type “help me write an email” or “help me analyze this” and then find the answers too vague. The key isn’t writing more—it’s letting Gemini know your goal, audience, constraints, and deliverable. The ten templates below progress from simple to advanced and are suitable for daily work, learning, content organization, and decision prep.
| How to use | What to do |
|---|---|
| Replace the brackets | Put [ ] Add your own source material, audience, and objective. |
| Handle one task at a time | Break complex work into stages: organise, compare, then rewrite. |
| Name the deliverable | Ask for a table, three-point summary, email draft, or word limit. |
| Verify important material | Check medical, legal, financial, regulatory, and high-stakes claims against reliable primary sources. |
Ask for direct feedback
When you want to test whether an idea is truly feasible and don’t want only polite agreement, ask Gemini to respond critically but constructively.
Chinese prompt
請以「Truth Mode」回覆：不要為了鼓勵我而同意我。請直接指出以下構思的三個最大問題、每個問題的影響，以及一個可行改善方法。
構思：[貼上構思]
受眾／情境：[說明]
請用表格輸出。English prompt
Use “Truth Mode”: do not agree with me just to be encouraging. Identify the three biggest weaknesses in the idea below, explain the impact of each weakness, and propose one practical improvement for each.
Idea: [paste idea]
Audience/context: [describe]
Output: a table.Make a difficult idea understandable
ELI5 is Explain Like I’m Five an abbreviation suitable for breaking unfamiliar concepts into approachable explanations; if you want to preserve accuracy, add the constraint “do not oversimplify.”
Chinese prompt
請用 ELI5 方式解釋 [概念]。
假設讀者完全沒有背景知識；先用一個日常比喻，再用三個步驟解釋。
保留必要的專有名詞，並在括號補上一句白話定義。
最後列出兩個常見誤解。English prompt
Explain [concept] using an ELI5 approach.
Assume the reader has no background knowledge. Start with an everyday analogy, then explain it in three steps.
Keep necessary technical terms, but define each one in plain language in brackets.
Finish with two common misconceptions.Focus on the highest-leverage actions
When you have many tasks and limited resources, this template helps prioritise by asking Gemini not only to list options but also to specify priorities and what to defer. 80/20 is a thinking framework, not a precise quantitative guarantee.
Chinese prompt
以下是我想做的事項：[貼上清單]
目標是：[目標]；可用時間／資源是：[限制]。
請用 80/20 思維找出最少投入但最可能帶來最大成果的三項工作。
以表格列出：優先次序、原因、預計影響、第一個可在 30 分鐘內完成的行動，以及暫時不做的事項。English prompt
Here is my task list: [paste list]
My goal is: [goal]. My available time/resources are: [constraints].
Use 80/20 thinking to identify the three actions likely to create the greatest impact with the least effort.
For each action, provide the reason, expected impact, one action I can finish in 30 minutes, and anything I should defer for now.
Output: a table.Make copy sound more natural
“/human” is not a built-in command across all interfaces; what’s truly effective is clearly stating tone, audience, and content that must not be changed.
Chinese prompt
請把以下文字改寫得自然、清晰、像真人寫給 [目標讀者] 的內容。
保留原意、所有日期、數字和專有名詞；不要加入未提供的事實。
語氣：[例如：專業但友善／簡潔直接／香港書面中文]
避免：空泛讚美、重複句子、過度正式的詞語。
原文：[貼上文字]English prompt
Rewrite the text below so it sounds natural, clear, and written for [target reader].
Preserve the original meaning, all dates, numbers, and proper nouns. Do not introduce facts that are not in the source.
Tone: [professional but friendly / concise and direct / other]
Avoid: vague praise, repeated sentences, and unnecessarily formal wording.
Source text: [paste text]Set your preferred working style
Rather than repeatedly asking “simplify” or “use a table,” write your preferences at the start of the conversation. This sets the working parameters for that conversation only and does not mean preferences will be permanently saved for all new conversations.
Chinese prompt
在這段對話中，請按以下方式回答：
- 我是：[你的角色／程度]
- 主要目的：[學習／做簡報／回覆客戶／規劃工作]
- 語言：繁體中文，必要時附英文術語
- 風格：先給結論，再給原因；避免行話
- 格式：最多 5 點；可比較時用表格
- 若資料不足：先問我最多 3 條澄清問題，不要猜測English prompt
For this conversation, please work in the following way:
- I am: [role/experience level]
- My purpose: [learn / prepare a presentation / reply to clients / plan work]
- Language: [language preference]
- Style: give the conclusion first, then the reasons; avoid jargon
- Format: no more than five points; use tables for comparisons
- If information is missing: ask up to three clarification questions instead of guessingFive more useful templates
6. Clarify First: Ask before answering
This reduces situations where "you thought I wanted A but it did B," and is especially useful for articles, event planning, document creation, or comparing proposals.
Chinese prompt
我要你協助完成：[任務]。
在開始前，請先問我最多 5 條最關鍵的澄清問題，涵蓋目標、讀者、範圍、限制和成功標準。
在我回答前，不要提供最終答案；如果我沒有回覆某題，請標示你採用的合理假設。English prompt
I need help with: [task].
Before you begin, ask up to five high-impact clarification questions covering the goal, audience, scope, constraints, and success criteria.
Do not provide a final answer until I reply. If I do not answer a question, state the reasonable assumption you used.7. Devil’s Advocate: Stress-test an idea
Before submitting proposals, selecting vendors, planning projects, or writing sales messages, ask Gemini to challenge the idea from an opponent's perspective; this doesn't replace professional advice but helps run an initial stress test.
Chinese prompt
請扮演一名理性、嚴格但公平的反方顧問，挑戰以下方案：[貼上方案]。
請找出五個可能的盲點、每個盲點的證據或假設、嚴重程度（高／中／低），以及我可採取的緩解措施。
如果某項批評只是推測，請明確標示為「需驗證」。English prompt
Act as a rational, rigorous, and fair devil’s advocate. Challenge this proposal: [paste proposal].
Identify five potential blind spots. For each one, provide the underlying assumption or evidence, severity (high/medium/low), and a possible mitigation.
Clearly label any criticism that is only a hypothesis as “needs verification.”8. Output Lock: Get an answer in an exact format
If you plan to put results directly into a document, spreadsheet, or presentation, predefining fields can save a lot of cleanup time. Google's guidance also recommends specifying the desired response format in the prompt.[1]
Chinese prompt
根據以下資料：[貼上資料]
請只以 Markdown 表格輸出，不要加入表格以外的說明。
欄位必須依次為：問題｜根本原因｜建議行動｜負責人｜截止日期｜風險。
如資料不足，請填「待確認」；不要自行編造日期、姓名或數據。English prompt
Based on this material: [paste material]
Return only a Markdown table, with no additional explanation.
Use these columns in this exact order: Issue | Root Cause | Recommended Action | Owner | Deadline | Risk.
If a field is missing, write “To confirm.” Do not invent names, dates, or numbers.9. Three Options: Compare real trade-offs
Asking "give me more suggestions" usually produces a long list that doesn't help choose. This template requires three distinct paths and explains which situations each suits.
Chinese prompt
我要為 [目標] 制定做法，背景如下：[背景]。
請提出三個明顯不同的方案：保守／平衡／進取。
每個方案請包括：核心做法、所需資源、主要好處、主要風險，以及最適合的情況。
最後根據 [我的優先考慮，例如時間／預算／品質] 推薦一個方案，並清楚說明理由。English prompt
I need an approach for [goal]. Context: [context].
Propose three clearly different options: conservative, balanced, and ambitious.
For each option, include the core approach, resources required, main benefit, main risk, and the situation where it fits best.
Then recommend one option based on my priority: [time/budget/quality/other], and explain why.10. Fact-Check Frame: Separate facts from assumptions
When data, regulations, people, dates, product specifications, or news are involved, the goal isn't just telling Gemini "don’t be wrong" but asking it to surface uncertainties clearly and then check original sources itself.
Chinese prompt
請分析以下說法：[貼上說法或草稿]。
把內容分成三欄：
1) 可直接從我提供資料支持的事實；
2) 合理但尚未證實的假設；
3) 需要外部可靠來源核實的主張。
對第 3 欄，請列出我應查找的來源類型（例如官方文件、研究報告、原始公告）。
不要把推測寫成事實。English prompt
Analyse this statement or draft: [paste text].
Separate the content into three sections:
1) Facts supported directly by the material I provided;
2) Reasonable but unproven assumptions;
3) Claims that require verification from reliable external sources.
For section 3, specify the type of source I should consult, such as an official document, research report, or primary announcement.
Do not present assumptions as facts.A universal prompt framework
If you don't remember the ten templates above, use this framework. It combines five elements—role, task, background, constraints, and format—into a reusable prompt structure.
Chinese prompt
角色：你是一名 [角色]。
任務：請幫我完成 [具體工作]。
背景：我的目標讀者／情況是 [背景]。
限制：請遵守 [字數、語氣、不可加入的資料、時限]。
輸出：請用 [表格／步驟／電郵／摘要] 格式，並包含 [必要欄位]。
如資料不足：請先問我 [數目] 條澄清問題；不要猜測。English prompt
Role: You are a [role].
Task: Help me complete [specific task].
Context: My audience/situation is [context].
Constraints: Follow [word limit, tone, information not to add, deadline].
Output: Use [table / steps / email / summary] and include [required fields].
If information is missing: ask [number] clarification questions; do not guess.The best prompts aren't the cleverest ones but those that let you take immediate next steps. Pick a template and fill in your context; if the first result isn't good enough, add examples, constraints, or an output format and ask it to redo. Prompt design is an iterative process.
