怎么说
The English phrase "how to say it" is translated into Chinese as 怎么说.
This phrase is commonly used as a filler or a way to express that one is struggling to find the right word in a conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 怎么 (zěnme), meaning "how" and 说 (shuō), meaning "to say" or "to speak".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, 點講 means "How do you say it?"
How does it change in a sentence?
In a question, the phrase is often used alone or followed by a specific word to ask for a translation, such as 这个怎么说? (How do you say this?).
Did you know?
- In modern slang, the phrase 怎么说 is sometimes used as a standalone response to express skepticism or a desire for the other person to justify their claim.
- The character 说 (shuō) contains a radical that relates to speech and words, but its phonetic component in many versions relates to 'to persuade' or 'to talk much'.
- If you use 怎么说 to ask about a person's opinion, it shifts from a linguistic question to a request for a summary or a judgment of a situation.
Examples in context
- 这个词用中文怎么说？Zhège cí yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?How do you say this word in Chinese?
- 那个东西用英语怎么说？Nàge dōngxi yòng Yīngyǔ zěnme shuō?How do you say that thing in English?
- 如果不确定，你可以问他怎么说。Rúguǒ bù quèdìng, nǐ kěyǐ wèn tā zěnme shuō.If you are not sure, you can ask him how to say it.
Example conversation
In a classroom, a student is asking a teacher about a word.
- 伟 Wei老师，这个单词怎么说？Lǎoshī, zhège dāncí zěnme shuō?Teacher, how do you say this word?
- 梓涵 Zihan你可以跟着我读一遍。Nǐ kěyǐ gēnzhe wǒ dú yíbiàn.You can read it once after me.
- 伟 Wei谢谢老师，我记住了。Xièxiè lǎoshī, wǒ jì zhù le.Thank you teacher, I have memorized it.
- 梓涵 Zihan不客气，继续努力。Bú kèqi, jìxù nǔlì.You're welcome, keep working hard.
