chime in; reply to someone's words
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to chime in; to take up the conversation; to reply to someone (who wasn't directly addressing you)
informalOften used in contexts where one interjects or replies unexpectedly, especially when the original speaker was not directly asking them. Can carry a slight nuance of being nosy or unnecessary.
Tā他
wèn问
le了
bàn半
tiān天
，
wū屋
lǐ里
méi没
rén人
dā搭
yán言
。
He asked for a long time, but no one in the room replied.
Wǒ我
men们
yòu又
méi没
wèn问
nǐ你
，
nǐ你
dā答
shén什
me么
yán言
！
We weren't even asking you, why are you chiming in!
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Kàn看
dào到
tā他
men们
lěng冷
chǎng场
le了
，
Xiǎo小
Lǐ李
gǎn赶
jǐn紧
dā搭
yán言
huǎn缓
hé和
qì气
fēn氛
。
Seeing that they had hit an awkward silence, Xiao Li quickly chimed in to lighten the mood.
Lǎo老
rén人
jia家
zài在
jiǎng讲
gù故
shi事
，
hái孩
zi子
men们
dōu都
ān安
jìng静
de地
tīng听
zhe着
，
méi没
rén人
hú胡
luàn乱
dā搭
yán言
。
The old man was telling a story, and the children listened quietly without interrupting.