對了 / 对了
duìle
The English phrase 'by the way' can be translated into Chinese using 對了 / 对了 (duìle) or 話說 / 话说.
Meaning: incidentally (prep_phrase)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 對了 / 对了 | duìle |
| 話說 / 话说 | huàshuō |
對了 / 对了 is most commonly used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a sudden, related or unrelated thought. You can also use the informal phrase 顺便说一句 to mean 'let me say something in passing'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 對了 literally means 'correct' or 'right' followed by a particle indicating a sudden realization or a change in the topic of conversation.
Which one should you use?
Use 對了 when a thought occurs to you suddenly during a conversation. In contrast, 話說 is used more to transition to a new topic or to start a story/explanation, similar to 'speaking of which' or 'anyway' in English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
話說 is more common in colloquial speech and storytelling than the more direct 對了.
How do you pronounce it?
duìle
Did you know?
- The phrase 話說 is a stylistic carryover from traditional Chinese novels, where it was used by narrators to signal a shift in the story's focus or to introduce a new character.
- The informal 顺便说一句 literally describes the physical act of doing something 'along the way', treating the spoken comment as a side-task performed while doing something else.
- If you use 對了 (duìle) at the end of a sentence instead of the beginning, it changes from a way to say 'by the way' into a way to confirm that something is indeed correct.
Examples in context
- 我要买水果，顺便提一下，你有什么要买的吗？I am going to buy fruits. By the way, is there anything you want to buy?
- 我正和朋友一起去餐厅，顺便说一句，你要来吗?I am going to the restaurant with my friends. By the way, do you want to join?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “by the way” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
