shuō

说

HSK 1Character · Verb · NounTraditional説

speak; explain; opinion; scold

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

6 senses · 30 examples
1.

verb

to express; to speak; to tell

neutral

Basic daily usage, can refer to speaking, telling stories, or sharing information.

Wǒ我
bù不
huì会
chàng唱
gē歌
 ,
zhǐ只
shuō说
le了
gè个
xiào笑
hua话
 。

I can't sing, so I just told a joke.

Lǎo老
shī师
zài在
kè课
táng堂
shàng上
shuō说
le了
jīn今
tiān天
de的
zuò作
yè业
 。

The teacher announced today's homework in class.

Show 3 more examples
Tā他
zhèng正
zài在
hé和
péng朋
yǒu友
shuō说
tā他
de的
lǚ旅
xíng行
jīng经
lì历
 。

He is telling his friend about his travel experiences.

Qǐng请
nǐ你
shuō说
yī一
xià下
nǐ你
de的
xiǎng想
fǎ法
 。

Please share your thoughts with us.

Tā她
méi没
shuō说
huà话
jiù就
lí离
kāi开
le了
fáng房
jiān间
 。

She left the room without saying a word.

2.

verb

to explain; to clarify

neutral

Used when making something clear or simplifying a complex topic.

Yī一
jiě解
shì释
jiù就
míng明
bai白
le了
 。

Once explained, it becomes clear.

Lǎo老
shī师
yòng用
lì例
zi子
shuō说
le了
zhè这
gè个
shù数
xué学
gōng公
shì式
 。

The teacher explained this math formula with examples.

Show 3 more examples
Tā他
xiáng详
xì细
shuō说
le了
zhè这
fèn份
hé合
tóng同
de的
tiáo条
kuǎn款
 。

He explained the terms of this contract in detail.

Wǒ我
tīng听
bù不
dǒng懂
 ,
nǐ你
néng能
zài再
shuō说
yī一
biàn遍
ma吗
 ?

I don't understand, can you explain that again?

Dǎo导
yóu游
xiàng向
yóu游
kè客
shuō说
le了
jǐng景
diǎn点
de的
lì历
shǐ史
 。

The tour guide explained the history of the attraction to the tourists.

3.

noun

opinion; view; theory

neutral

Refers to statements, beliefs, or formal theories about a topic.

Zhè这
shì是
yī一
zhǒng种
xīn新
de的
xué学
shù术
xué学
shuō说
 。

This is a new academic theory.

Tā他
xiě写
shū书
lì立
shuō说
 ,
chuán传
bō播
zì自
jǐ己
de的
sī思
xiǎng想
 。

He wrote books and established theories to spread his ideas.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
zhǒng种
shuō说
fǎ法
méi没
yǒu有
kē科
xué学
yī依
jù据
 。

This statement has no scientific basis.

Dà大
jiā家
gè各
yǒu有
gè各
de的
shuō说
fǎ法
 。

Everyone has their own different opinions.

Tā他
tí提
chū出
le了
yī一
gè个
yǒu有
zhēng争
yì议
de的
shuō说
fǎ法
 。

He put forward a controversial view.

4.

verb

to scold; to criticize; to rebuke

informal

Informal daily usage, referring to being scolded by a superior or family member.

Tā他
yīn因
wí为
chí迟
dào到
bèi被
lǎo老
shī师
pí批
píng评
le了
 。

He was scolded by the teacher for being late.

Bà爸
ba爸
shuō说
le了
tā他
jǐ几
jù句
 ,
yīn因
wèi为
tā他
nòng弄
huài坏
le了
wán玩
jù具
 。

Dad scolded him a few times because he broke the toy.

Show 3 more examples
Tā她
yīn因
wèi为
méi没
wán完
chéng成
zuò作
yè业
ái挨
le了
mā妈
ma妈
de的
mà骂
 。

She was scolded by her mom for not finishing her homework.

Lǎo老
ban板
zuó昨
tiān天
bǎ把
wǒ我
hěn狠
hěn狠
shuō说
le了
yī一
dùn顿
 。

The boss gave me a good scolding yesterday.

Tā他
bù不
xiǎo小
xīn心
dǎ打
suì碎
le了
pán盘
zi子
 ,
bèi被
nǎi奶
nai奶
shuō说
le了
 。

He accidentally broke a plate and was scolded by his grandma.

5.

verb

to introduce; to arrange a match

informal

Mostly used in the context of arranging marriages or partnerships.

Tā她
mā妈
ma妈
qǐng请
méi媒
rén人
shuō说
pó婆
jia家
 。

Her mother asked a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for her.

Lín邻
jū居
bāng帮
tā他
shuō说
le了
yī一
fèn份
hǎo好
gōng工
zuò作
 。

The neighbor helped him get a good job through introduction.

Show 3 more examples
Tā她
qǐng请
péng朋
yǒu友
shuō说
hé合
tā她
hé和
nán男
péng朋
yǒu友
de的
máo矛
dùn盾
 。

She asked a friend to mediate the conflict between her and her boyfriend.

Méi媒
pó婆
zhèng正
zài在
bāng帮
liǎng两
gè个
nián年
qīng轻
rén人
shuō说
qīn亲
shì事
 。

The matchmaker is arranging a marriage for the two young people.

Tā他
bāng帮
péng朋
yǒu友
shuō说
le了
gè个
hé合
shì适
de的
zū租
fáng房
duì对
xiàng象
 。

He helped his friend find a suitable rental partner through introduction.

6.

verb

to refer to; to mean; to imply

neutral

Used when asking who or what a statement is referring to.

Tā他
zhè这
fān番
huà话
shì是
shuō说
shuí谁
ne呢
 ?

Who is he talking about with these remarks?

Nǐ你
shuō说
de的
zhè这
gè个
xiàng项
mù目
shì是
zhǐ指
wǒ我
men们
shàng上
zhōu周
tǎo讨
lùn论
de的
nà那
gè个
ma吗
 ?

Are you referring to the project we discussed last week?

Show 3 more examples
Tā他
shuō说
de的
nà那
gè个
dì地
fāng方
shì是
shì市
zhōng中
xīn心
ma吗
 ?

Is the place he is talking about the city center?

Nǐ你
gāng刚
cái才
shuō说
de的
huà话
shì是
zài在
shuō说
wǒ我
ma吗
 ?

Were you talking about me just now?

Lǎo老
shī师
shuō说
de的
zhè这
zhǒng种
fāng方
fǎ法
hěn很
yǒu有
xiào效
 。

The method the teacher mentioned is very effective.