怎么说
The English phrase 'how to say' is translated into Chinese as 怎么说.
If you want to ask how to say a specific word in a specific language, use the pattern '用 [Language] 怎么说 [Word]?'
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 怎么说 is composed of 怎么 (zěnme), meaning 'how' and 说 (shuō), meaning 'to say/speak'.
How does it change in a sentence?
怎么说 functions as a verb phrase and can be placed at the end of a sentence to form a question, such as 'XXX 怎么说?' (How do you say XXX?).
Did you know?
- Chinese has a specific term called 语言不通 to describe the state of not knowing 怎么说 in another language, which literally means 'the languages do not pierce through'.
- In spoken Chinese, 怎么说 is often used as a filler phrase similar to 'how should I put it' when a speaker is searching for the right words to describe a complex feeling.
- While 怎么说 asks about the words used, Chinese speakers use a different structure with 怎么叫 when asking specifically what an object is called.
Examples in context
- 我不知道这个用日语该怎么说。I don't know how to say this in Japanese.This sentence is useful for expressing that you do not know how to say something in Japanese using 怎么说.Tatoeba #4789656 by 400S, translation #4844638 by pig8322
- XXX用荷兰语怎么说？How to say XXX in Dutch?This sentence shows how to ask how to say a word in Dutch using 怎么说.Tatoeba #388260 by sysko, translation #388261 by sysko
- 这个词用中文怎么说？Zhège cí yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?How do you say this word in Chinese?
Example conversation
At a coffee shop, Jia Yi asks Jun Jie for help with a word.
- 佳怡 Jiayi俊杰，这个词用中文怎么说？Junjie, zhège cí yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?Jun Jie, how do you say this word in Chinese?
- 俊杰 Junjie这个词叫“咖啡”。Zhège cí jiào 'kāfēi'.This word is called 'coffee'.
- 佳怡 Jiayi原来是这样，谢谢你。Yuánlái shì zhèyàng, xièxie nǐ.I see, thank you.
- 俊杰 Junjie不客气，佳怡。Bú kèqi, Jiāyí.You're welcome, Jia Yi.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
