说 shuō say
say; to speak; to explain; to tell off
How to remember 说: 讠 words + 兑 convert = say. The best man's words come out in a jumble, so his sister quietly helps him convert his notes into what he wants to say.
Component breakdown
说 = 讠 words + 兑 convert
- 讠 words
- 兑 convert
The best man's words come out in a jumble, so his sister quietly helps him convert his notes into what he wants to say.
How it is used
- Say / speak - 说话 (shuōhuà) talk, 他说… (tā shuō…) he says…; the general verb for producing speech.
- Also explain / criticize - 说明 (shuōmíng) explain, and colloquially to 说 someone is to tell them off. Contrast 讲 (jiǎng), which leans toward telling or lecturing.
Words with 说
- 说话shuōhuàto talkHSK 1
- 听说tīngshuōto hear (something said)HSK 3
- 说明shuōmíngexplainHSK 4
- 小说xiǎoshuōnovelHSK 4
- 再说zàishuōto say againHSK 4
- 说明书shuōmíngshūmanualHSK 4
- 说法shuōfǎto expound Buddhist teachingsHSK 4
- 传说chuánshuōlegendHSK 5
- 据说jùshuōit is said thatHSK 5
- 说不定shuōbudìngcan't say for sureHSK 5
- 说服shuōfúto persuadeHSK 5
- 解说jiěshuōto explain (verbally)HSK 6
- 别说biéshuōto say nothing ofHSK 7
- 好说hǎoshuōeasy to deal withHSK 7
- 学说xuéshuōtheoryHSK 7
- 实话实说shíhuà-shíshuōto tell the truthHSK 7
- 按说ànshuōin the ordinary course of eventsHSK 7
- 无话可说wúhuà-kěshuōto have nothing to say (idiom)HSK 7
- 演说yǎnshuōspeechHSK 7
- 虽说suīshuōthoughHSK 7
- 诉说sùshuōto recountHSK 7
- 说不上shuōbushàngto be unable to say or tellHSK 7
- 说情shuōqíngto intercedeHSK 7
- 劝说quànshuōto persuadeHSK 8
- 胡说húshuōto talk nonsenseHSK 9
- 说谎shuōhuǎngto lieHSK 9
Example sentences
- 你会说汉语吗？ Nǐ huì shuō Hànyǔ ma?Can you speak Chinese?
- 你能说汉语吗？ Nǐ néng shuō Hànyǔ ma?Can you speak Chinese?
- 我不想和你说再见。 Wǒ bù xiǎng hé nǐ shuō zàijiàn.I don't want to say goodbye to you.
- 你会说几种语言？ Nǐ huì shuō jǐ zhǒng yǔyán?How many languages do you speak?