对话 duìhuà dialogue
dialogue; conversation
How to remember 对话: 对 correct + 话 speech = dialogue.
Characters
How it is used
- A structured, back-and-forth exchange - 两国进行对话 (liǎng guó jìnxíng duìhuà) the two countries hold talks; also textbook 对话 practice dialogues.
- Contrast 聊天 (liáotiān, casual chat) and 谈话 (tánhuà, a talk, often serious/one-directional): 对话 implies two sides responding to each other.
- Both noun and verb, and common in figurative/diplomatic register (人机对话 human-machine dialogue).
Example sentences
- 双方开始了对话。 Shuāngfāng kāishǐle duìhuà.The two sides started a conversation.
- 我没有参与对话。 Wǒ méiyǒu cānyù duìhuà.I did not participate in the dialog.