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
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
说 = 讠 words + 兑 convert
- 讠 words meaning
- 兑 convert sound
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 came to be
Words give the meaning and the right part gives the sound.
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?