说
shuō
To speak in Chinese is to say 说 (shuō).
说 is a versatile and commonly used term for 'speak'. It is used to indicate the ability to communicate in a language, but it is also the standard verb for 'to say' or 'to tell' something.
Meaning: to be able to communicate in a language (verb)
Which one should you use?
While 说 means 'to speak' or 'to say', other terms exist for specific contexts: 说话 (shuōhuà) is the most general and neutral term for 'speak', while 讲 (jiǎng) is a more colloquial way to say 'speak'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to express the ability to speak a language, use the auxiliary verb 会 (huì) before 说. To indicate that the act of speaking or saying has already been completed, add the particle 了 (le) after 说 to form 说了.
How do you pronounce it?
shuō
Did you know?
- The word 说 can also mean 'to persuade' or 'to convince' in certain contexts, such as when trying to talk someone into doing something.
- The word 说 can also be used as a noun in certain contexts to mean 'a theory' or 'a version of a story', such as in the phrase 一种说法 (yī zhǒng shuōfǎ).
- In professional or formal settings, using 讲 (jiǎng) can sometimes imply giving a lecture or a formal speech rather than just casual conversation.
Examples in context
- 我说瑞典语。I speak Swedish.This sentence is useful for practicing how to say you speak a specific language with 说.Tatoeba #1428153 by sadhen, translation #880605 by CN
- 您说德语吗？Do you speak German?This sentence is useful for asking someone if they speak a specific language with 说.Tatoeba #5094793 by Jin_Dehong, translation #522397 by darinmex
- 汤姆想说话。Tom wants to speak.This sentence is useful for expressing the desire to speak with 说.Tatoeba #5613702 by verdastelo9604, translation #2011447 by CK
- 他今天晚上要发言 (tā jīntiān wǎnshàng yào fāyán)He will speak tonight.
- 咱们来聊天吧 (zánmen lái liáotiān ba)Let's chat.
- 你讲什么？(nǐ jiǎng shénme)What are you talking about?
- 274 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two students are meeting for the first time on campus.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你好，你会说英语吗？Nǐ hǎo, nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?Hello, can you speak English?
- 浩然 Haoran我会说一点点。Wǒ huì shuō yīdiǎndiǎn.I can speak a little bit.
- 佳怡 Jiayi太好了，我们可以练习。Tài hǎo le, wǒmen kěyǐ liànxí.Great, we can practice.
- 浩然 Haoran好，我想多说中文。Hǎo, wǒ xiǎng duō shuō Zhōngwén.Okay, I want to speak more Chinese.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
