说 (shuō) - to speak & to say

说Tone 1

shuō ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 讠

树檀

说 · shuō

to speak;

to say;

to explain;

theory;

doctrine;

also used in 说 (shui4) meaning 'to persuade'.

to speakto sayto explain

Usage highlights

to speakto explaintheorynovellegendspeech

Synonyms

  • 讲— to speak; to explain
  • 谈— to talk; to discuss
  • 言— to speak; words

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is speaking (他在说话).
  • Please explain this theory (请说明这个理论).
  • I want to say something (我想说点什么).
  • This is just a story (这只是一个传说).

Collocations

  • to speak(说话)
  • to explain(说明)
  • theory(学说)
  • novel(小说)
  • legend(传说)
  • speech(演说)

Idioms

  • To talk irresponsibly(胡说八道)
  • To talk eloquently(能说会道)
  • Public opinion is powerful(众说纷纭)
  • To speak frankly(直言说论)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the most fundamental characters related to human communication and expression in Chinese.
  • Represents the importance of speech and discourse in Chinese philosophical traditions.
  • The character appears in many classical texts emphasizing the power of persuasive speech.

FAQ