For autodidact students of Mandarin, the verb 说 (shuō) — "to say, to speak, to tell" — is one of the most frequently used verbs in the language. It introduces reported speech without any subordinating conjunction (as established in Lesson 22), forms a large family of compound words, and appears in dozens of fixed expressions that are indispensable in daily life. Its result complements — 说完 (finish saying), 说好 (agree / settle), 说清楚 (make clear), 说出来 (say it out) — offer a natural entry into the resultative complement system of Chinese verbal grammar.
The speech radical 讠(a simplified form of 言 yán, words/speech) in 说 appears in an entire family of high-frequency characters: 话 (huà, speech/words), 请 (qǐng, please/invite), 谢 (xiè, thank), 语 (yǔ, language), 读 (dú, read aloud), 课 (kè, lesson), 论 (lùn, discuss/argue). Recognising this radical makes a large portion of the Chinese communication lexicon accessible at a glance.
Key Takeaways: - 说 + clause: reported speech with no "that" conjunction — 他说他来 (He said he would come) - 对…说 (duì…shuō): say TO someone — 她对我说 (She said to me) - 说话 (shuōhuà): to talk/speak [verb-object compound — cannot take a direct object] - 说得好/不好 (shuō de hǎo/bù hǎo): speaks well/badly [manner complement] - 说好了 (shuō hǎo le): agreed / settled [fixed expression]
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说 is a phonetic compound: 讠(the speech radical, a simplified 言) on the left, and 兑 (duì, exchange/convert) on the right as the phonetic component — it carries the sound. The speech radical 讠is a compressed form of 言 (yán), itself a pictograph of a mouth with sound waves rising from it. Learning this radical unlocks a significant cluster of everyday characters.
Note that 说 in classical Chinese is sometimes read as yuè (joyful/pleased) — a homograph with an entirely different meaning. The opening line of the Analects contains this very character: 学而时习之，不亦说乎 — where 说 is read yuè and means "joyful." This classical reading is encountered in literary study; in modern Chinese 说 is always shuō.
Common learner confusion: 说 (shuō, say/speak) versus 说话 (shuōhuà, talk). 说 can take an object: 说中文 (speak Chinese), 说谎 (tell lies), 说故事 (tell stories). 说话 is a verb-object compound — 话 (words/speech) is already built in — and cannot take a further direct object. You can say 说话 alone or with manner complements, but not *说话中文.
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25.1a 他 he 说 said 他 he 明天 tomorrow 要 would 来 come
25.1b (tā) he (shuō) said (tā) he (míngtiān) tomorrow (yào) would (lái) come
25.2a 你 you 在 PROG 说 saying 什么 what ？
25.2b (nǐ) you (zài) PROG (shuō) saying (shénme) what?
25.3a 妈妈 mother 对 to 我 me 说 said ： : "要 must 好好 properly 学习 study 。"
25.3b (māma) mother (duì) to (wǒ) me (shuō) said (yào) must (hǎohǎo) properly (xuéxí) study
25.4a 他 he 说 speak 中文 Chinese 说 speak 得 DE 很好 very-well
25.4b (tā) he (shuō) speak (Zhōngwén) Chinese (shuō) speak (de) DE (hěn hǎo) very-well
25.5a 这 this 件事 matter 很难 very-difficult 说 explain
25.5b (zhè) this (jiàn shì) matter (hěn nán) very-difficult (shuō) explain
25.6a 你们 you-PL 说好了 agreed-PERF 吗 Q ？
25.6b (nǐmen) you-PL (shuō hǎo le) agreed-PERF (ma) Q?
25.7a 他 he 从来 never 不 not 说 tell 谎 lies
25.7b (tā) he (cónglái) never (bù) not (shuō) tell (huǎng) lies
25.8a 大家 everyone 都 all 说 say 这部 this-CL 电影 film 很好看 very-good-to-watch
25.8b (dàjiā) everyone (dōu) all (shuō) say (zhè bù) this-CL (diànyǐng) film (hěn hǎo kàn) very-good-to-watch
25.9a 请 please 把 BA 你 your 的 DE 想法 ideas 说 say 清楚 clearly
25.9b (qǐng) please (bǎ) BA (nǐ) your (de) DE (xiǎngfǎ) ideas (shuō) say (qīngchu) clearly
25.10a 老师 teacher 说完 finished-saying ， , 学生 students 开始 began 讨论 discuss
25.10b (lǎoshī) teacher (shuō wán) finished-saying (xuésheng) students (kāishǐ) began (tǎolùn) discuss
25.11a 有 have 些 some 话 words ， , 说 say 出来 out 比 than 不说 not-saying 难 harder 多了 much-more
25.11b (yǒu) have (xiē) some (huà) words (shuō) say (chū lái) out (bǐ) than (bù shuō) not-saying (nán) harder (duō le) much-more
25.12a 谚语 proverb 说 says ： : "早起 early-rising 的 DE 鸟 bird 有 has 虫吃 worm-to-eat 。"
25.12b (yànyǔ) proverb (shuō) says (zǎo qǐ) early-rising (de) DE (niǎo) bird (yǒu) has (chóng chī) worm-to-eat
25.13a 他 he 想 want 说 say 什么 what 就 then 说 say 什么 what
25.13b (tā) he (xiǎng) want (shuō) say (shénme) what (jiù) then (shuō) say (shénme) what
25.14a 说 saying 到 to 做到 do-to-PERF ， , 这 this 才 only-then 是 is 真正 truly 的 DE 承诺 promise
25.14b (shuō) saying (dào) to (zuò dào) do-to-PERF (zhè) this (cái) only-then (shì) is (zhēnzhèng) truly (de) DE (chéngnuò) promise
25.15a 不说 not-saying 再见 goodbye ， , 因为 because 我们 we 还会 still-will 再见 meet-again
25.15b (bù shuō) not-saying (zàijiàn) goodbye (yīnwèi) because (wǒmen) we (hái huì) still-will (zàijiàn) meet-again
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25.1 他说他明天要来。 "He said he would come tomorrow."
25.2 你在说什么？ "What are you saying?"
25.3 妈妈对我说："要好好学习。" "Mum said to me: 'You must study properly.'"
25.4 他说中文说得很好。 "He speaks Chinese very well."
25.5 这件事很难说。 "This matter is very difficult to explain."
25.6 你们说好了吗？ "Have you all agreed / settled it?"
25.7 他从来不说谎。 "He never tells lies."
25.8 大家都说这部电影很好看。 "Everyone says this film is very good."
25.9 请把你的想法说清楚。 "Please state your ideas clearly."
25.10 老师说完，学生开始讨论。 "After the teacher finished speaking, the students began to discuss."
25.11 有些话，说出来比不说难多了。 "Some words are much harder to say than to leave unsaid."
25.12 谚语说："早起的鸟有虫吃。" "The proverb says: 'The early bird catches the worm.'"
25.13 他想说什么就说什么。 "He says whatever he wants to say."
25.14 说到做到，这才是真正的承诺。 "Following words with action — that is what a true promise means."
25.15 不说再见，因为我们还会再见。 "We won't say goodbye, because we will meet again."
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25.1 他说他明天要来。 25.2 你在说什么？ 25.3 妈妈对我说："要好好学习。" 25.4 他说中文说得很好。 25.5 这件事很难说。 25.6 你们说好了吗？ 25.7 他从来不说谎。 25.8 大家都说这部电影很好看。 25.9 请把你的想法说清楚。 25.10 老师说完，学生开始讨论。 25.11 有些话，说出来比不说难多了。 25.12 谚语说："早起的鸟有虫吃。" 25.13 他想说什么就说什么。 25.14 说到做到，这才是真正的承诺。 25.15 不说再见，因为我们还会再见。
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These are the grammar rules for 说 (shuō) — "to say/speak":
说 with reported speech — no "that": Following the pattern established in Lesson 22, 说 introduces reported speech directly, without any conjunction:
他说他明天来 — He said [that] he would come tomorrow. 妈妈说要好好学习 — Mum said [that] one must study properly. 大家都说这部电影很好看 — Everyone says [that] this film is very good.
The clause follows 说 immediately. This is the standard and complete grammar of Chinese; no conjunction is needed or wanted.
对…说 (duì…shuō) — say TO someone: To specify the recipient of speech, 对 (toward/to) + person precedes 说: 妈妈对我说 (Mum said to me), 他对大家说 (He said to everyone). Contrast with 告诉 (gàosu, to tell), which takes the person as a direct object without 对: 妈妈告诉我 (Mum told me).
说 + 得 + complement — manner of speaking: The structural particle 得 (de) links 说 to a description of how well or badly the speaking is done: 说得很好 (speaks very well), 说得太快 (speaks too fast), 说得不清楚 (speaks unclearly). When the verb takes an object, the verb must be repeated: 说中文说得很好 — verb (说) + object (中文) + verb (说) + 得 + complement (很好).
Result complements with 说:
说完 (shuō wán): finish saying completely [完 = finish] 说好 (shuō hǎo): agree / settle [好 = settled, satisfactory] 说清楚 (shuō qīngchu): make clear [清楚 = clear] 说出来 (shuō chū lái): say it out / express [出来 = outward] 说到做到 (shuō dào zuò dào): follow words with action [到 = reach/achieve]
想说什么就说什么 — correlative "whatever": This structure uses 什么 (what) twice: 想说什么 (whatever one wants to say) + 就 (then) + 说什么 (say that). The pattern generalises: 想去哪里就去哪里 (go wherever one wants), 想要什么就说什么 (say what you want). 就 in the second clause marks the consequence following automatically from the condition.
Common Mistakes: - *他说那他来 — inserting 那 as "that": entirely wrong in Chinese; simply 他说他来 - Confusing 说 (can take an object) with 说话 (cannot take a direct object) - Using 说 where 告诉 is needed — 他告诉我地址 (He told me the address) not *他说我地址
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说 permeates Chinese social and moral life. The expression 说到做到 (say and then do — follow words with action) is a cardinal virtue, often cited approvingly and its absence condemned: 光说不做 (only saying, not doing) is a standard criticism. Words carry moral weight: once spoken, they create obligation.
In everyday Chinese speech, 说 appears in countless fixed phrases that a learner hears almost immediately: 不好意思 (excuse me/sorry — literally "not good meaning"), 没什么好说的 (nothing more to say), 怎么说呢 (how shall I put it), 说实话 (to be honest — literally "speak true words"), 据说 (it is said that). These collocations of 说 are as important as the bare verb itself.
The classical association between 说 and 悦 (yuè, joy) — the same character with different readings — reflects a deep connection in Chinese thought between speaking well and well-being. Confucius's Analects begin with this very pun: learning that is regularly practised brings the joy (说/yuè) of having something to say truly. Speaking and flourishing are linked at the root of the tradition.
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《论语·学而》第一章 — Analects of Confucius, Book 1, Chapter 1, c. 5th century BCE
The very first line of the Analects contains 说 — but not as "to say." It is read yuè: joyful, pleased. This single character opening the Chinese philosophical canon carries the lesson's full ambiguity.
学而时习之，不亦说乎？
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
学 (xué) learn 而 (ér) and 时 (shí) at-due-time 习 (xí) practise 之 (zhī) it ，
不 (bù) not 亦 (yì) also 说 (yuè) joyful 乎 (hū) INTERR-PART
F-B: Authentic Text with Translation
学而时习之，不亦说乎？
"To learn and at the proper time practise what one has learned — is that not a joy?"
F-C: Authentic Text Only
学而时习之，不亦说乎？
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
说 read as yuè (joyful): in this context 说 is a homograph of 悦 (yuè, pleased/joyful). The classical and modern dictionaries both record this reading. Today 悦 is the standard character for joy; 说 in this meaning is encountered only in classical texts, particularly this line from the Analects.
不亦…乎 (bù yì…hū): a classical rhetorical question pattern meaning "is it not also…?" Equivalent to modern 不也是…吗? (Isn't it also the case that…?). The structure invites agreement — it is not a genuine question but an affirmation in interrogative form.
时习之 (shí xí zhī): 时 as classical temporal adverb "at the right time / regularly," 习 "to practise/review," 之 "it" (classical object pronoun standing for what was learned). In modern Chinese: 按时复习它 (review it at the proper time).
F-E: Literary Commentary
The first word of the Analects is 学 (learn); the third character of its first sentence is 说 — and 说 here means not "say" but "joy." Confucius opens the foundational text of Chinese civilisation with a claim about the pleasure of learning. The fact that the same character means both "say" and "joy" is not accident — it encodes a philosophy. To learn something truly is to be able to say it; to say it at the right time and in the right way produces joy. Speaking, learning, and happiness are woven into one character. Every time a student of Chinese says 说, they echo this opening.
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A journalist interviews a celebrated author about her writing, her readers, and the difficulty of saying what matters. 说 appears across all its registers — reported speech, direct speech, complement structures, fixed expressions — in a natural interview format that shows the verb at full stretch.
25.16a 记者 journalist 问 asked ： : "你 you 最想 most-want 对 to 读者 readers 说 say 什么 what ？"**
25.16b (jìzhě) journalist (wèn) asked (nǐ) you (zuì xiǎng) most-want (duì) to (dúzhě) readers (shuō) say (shénme) what?
25.17a 作家 author 说 said ： : "我 I 想 want 说 say ， , 每个人 each-person 都 all 有 have 自己 own 的 DE 故事 story 。"
25.17b (zuòjiā) author (shuō) said (wǒ) I (xiǎng) want (shuō) say (měi gè rén) each-person (dōu) all (yǒu) have (zìjǐ) own (de) DE (gùshi) story
25.18a 记者 journalist 说 said ， , 很多 many 读者 readers 说 say 她 her 的 DE 书 book 改变 changed 了 PERF 他们 them
25.18b (jìzhě) journalist (shuō) said (hěn duō) many (dúzhě) readers (shuō) say (tā) her (de) DE (shū) book (gǎibiàn) changed (le) PERF (tāmen) them
25.19a 作家 author 听 listened 完 finish ， , 沉默 silent 了 PERF 一下 a-moment ， , 然后 then 轻轻 gently 地 DE-manner 说 said ： : "真的 really 吗 Q ？"**
25.19b (zuòjiā) author (tīng) listened (wán) finish (chénmò le) silent-PERF (yīxià) a-moment (ránhòu) then (qīngqīng) gently (de) DE-manner (shuō) said (zhēn de) really (ma) Q?
25.20a "写作 writing 时 when ， , 我 I 只是 just 想 want 把 BA 心里 heart-inside 的 DE 话 words 说 say 出来 out 。"
25.20b (xiězuò shí) writing-when (wǒ) I (zhǐshì) just (xiǎng) want (bǎ) BA (xīnlǐ) heart-inside (de) DE (huà) words (shuō) say (chū lái) out
25.21a "有 have 些 some 话 words ， , 不说 not-saying 出来 out 就 then 会 will 一直 always 堵 block 在 at 心里 heart-inside 。"
25.21b (yǒu) have (xiē) some (huà) words (bù shuō) not-saying (chū lái) out (jiù) then (huì) will (yīzhí) always (dǔ) block (zài) at (xīnlǐ) heart-inside
25.22a 记者 journalist 问 asked ： : "你 you 是 is 怎么 how 学 learned 会 learned-to 这样 like-this 写 write 的 DE ？"**
25.22b (jìzhě) journalist (wèn) asked (nǐ) you (shì) is (zěnme) how (xué huì) learned-to (zhèyàng) like-this (xiě) write (de) DE?
25.23a 作家 author 说 said ： : "读书 read-books ， , 然后 then 把 BA 读到 read-find 的 DE 东西 things 用 use 自己 own 的 DE 话 words 说 say 出来 out 。"
25.23b (zuòjiā) author (shuō) said (dú shū) read-books (ránhòu) then (bǎ) BA (dú dào) read-find (de) DE (dōngxi) things (yòng) use (zìjǐ) own (de) DE (huà) words (shuō) say (chū lái) out
25.24a "说 say 得 DE 好不好 good-or-not ， , 不 not 是 is 最重要 most-important 的 DE ； ; 说 say 得 DE 真不真 true-or-not ， , 才 only-then 是 is 关键 key 。"
25.24b (shuō) say (de) DE (hǎo bù hǎo) good-or-not (bù) not (shì) is (zuì zhòngyào) most-important (de) DE (shuō) say (de) DE (zhēn bù zhēn) true-or-not (cái) only-then (shì) is (guānjiàn) key
25.25a 采访 interview 结束 ended 时 when ， , 记者 journalist 说 said ： : "谢谢 thank 您 you-HON 今天 today 说 said 了 PERF 这么多 so-much 。"
25.25b (cǎifǎng) interview (jiéshù) ended (shí) when (jìzhě) journalist (shuō) said (xièxie) thank (nín) you-HON (jīntiān) today (shuō) said (le) PERF (zhème duō) so-much
25.26a 作家 author 说 said ： : "说 speak ， , 是 is 因为 because 有人 have-people 听 listen 。"
25.26b (zuòjiā) author (shuō) said (shuō) speak (shì) is (yīnwèi) because (yǒu rén) have-people (tīng) listen
25.27a 文章 article 发表 published 后 after ， , 读者 readers 纷纷 one-after-another 说 said 那次 that-CL 采访 interview 说到 spoke-to 了 PERF 心里 heart-inside
25.27b (wénzhāng) article (fābiǎo) published (hòu) after (dúzhě) readers (fēnfēn) one-after-another (shuō) said (nà cì) that-CL (cǎifǎng) interview (shuō dào) spoke-to (le) PERF (xīnlǐ) heart-inside
25.28a 作家 author 看 saw 到 to 评论 comments ， , 只是 just 笑 smiled 了 PERF 笑 smile ， , 没 not-PAST 说 say 什么 what
25.28b (zuòjiā) author (kàn) saw (dào) to (pínglùn) comments (zhǐshì) just (xiào le) smiled-PERF (xiào) smile (méi) not-PAST (shuō) say (shénme) what
25.29a 有人 someone 问 asked 她 her ： : "你 you 满意 satisfied 那次 that-CL 采访 interview 吗 Q ？"**
25.29b (yǒu rén) someone (wèn) asked (tā) her (nǐ) you (mǎnyì) satisfied (nà cì) that-CL (cǎifǎng) interview (ma) Q?
25.30a 她 she 说 said ： : "说出来 said-out 的 DE ， , 就 then 不属于 not-belong-to 我了 me-PERF ； ; 属于 belong-to 听 listen 的 DE 人 people 了 PERF 。"
25.30b (tā) she (shuō) said (shuō chū lái de) said-out-DE (jiù) then (bù shǔyú) not-belong-to (wǒ le) me-PERF (shǔyú) belong-to (tīng) listen (de) DE (rén) people (le) PERF
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25.16 记者问："你最想对读者说什么？" "The journalist asked: 'What do you most want to say to readers?'"
25.17 作家说："我想说，每个人都有自己的故事。" "The author said: 'I want to say: every person has their own story.'"
25.18 记者说，很多读者说她的书改变了他们。 "The journalist said that many readers say her book changed them."
25.19 作家听完，沉默了一下，然后轻轻地说："真的吗？" "The author finished listening, was quiet for a moment, then said gently: 'Really?'"
25.20 "写作时，我只是想把心里的话说出来。" "'When I write, I just want to say what is in my heart.'"
25.21 "有些话，不说出来就会一直堵在心里。" "'Some words — if you don't say them out, they will always be lodged in your heart.'"
25.22 记者问："你是怎么学会这样写的？" "The journalist asked: 'How did you learn to write like this?'"
25.23 作家说："读书，然后把读到的东西用自己的话说出来。" "The author said: 'Read books, then say what you have found in your own words.'"
25.24 "说得好不好，不是最重要的；说得真不真，才是关键。" "'Whether it is said well is not most important; whether it is said truly — that is the key.'"
25.25 采访结束时，记者说："谢谢您今天说了这么多。" "When the interview ended, the journalist said: 'Thank you for saying so much today.'"
25.26 作家说："说，是因为有人听。" "The author said: 'I speak because there are people listening.'"
25.27 文章发表后，读者纷纷说那次采访说到了心里。 "After the article was published, readers said one after another that the interview spoke to their hearts."
25.28 作家看到评论，只是笑了笑，没说什么。 "The author saw the comments, just smiled briefly, and said nothing."
25.29 有人问她："你满意那次采访吗？" "Someone asked her: 'Are you satisfied with that interview?'"
25.30 她说："说出来的，就不属于我了；属于听的人了。" "She said: 'What has been said no longer belongs to me — it belongs to those who listen.'"
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25.16 记者问："你最想对读者说什么？" 25.17 作家说："我想说，每个人都有自己的故事。" 25.18 记者说，很多读者说她的书改变了他们。 25.19 作家听完，沉默了一下，然后轻轻地说："真的吗？" 25.20 "写作时，我只是想把心里的话说出来。" 25.21 "有些话，不说出来就会一直堵在心里。" 25.22 记者问："你是怎么学会这样写的？" 25.23 作家说："读书，然后把读到的东西用自己的话说出来。" 25.24 "说得好不好，不是最重要的；说得真不真，才是关键。" 25.25 采访结束时，记者说："谢谢您今天说了这么多。" 25.26 作家说："说，是因为有人听。" 25.27 文章发表后，读者纷纷说那次采访说到了心里。 25.28 作家看到评论，只是笑了笑，没说什么。 25.29 有人问她："你满意那次采访吗？" 25.30 她说："说出来的，就不属于我了；属于听的人了。"
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把…说出来 (bǎ…shuō chū lái): a 把-construction with the directional complement 出来 (outward / into view). 把心里的话说出来 = "say [what is in the heart] outward." 出来 attached to a verb of expression indicates the movement of something from inside to outside, from private to public: 写出来 (write it out), 画出来 (draw it out), 唱出来 (sing it out). The complement does not add a new action — it specifies the direction and result of the existing action.
说到了心里 (shuō dào le xīnlǐ): "spoke to the heart / hit home." 说 + 到 (resultative complement meaning "reach/arrive at") + 心里 (heart/inside). The result complement 到 here indicates that the speaking reached its target — the listener's heart. This is a common evaluative expression for writing or speech that resonates deeply.
笑了笑 (xiào le xiào): reduplicated verb with 了 — "smiled briefly." This pattern (V + 了 + V) indicates a brief, light, once-off action: 想了想 (thought for a moment), 看了看 (had a look), 说了说 (said a few words). The reduplication creates a sense of lightness, tentativeness, or small scale.
说出来的，就不属于我了 (shuō chū lái de, jiù bù shǔyú wǒ le): the final sentence is structured as a nominal clause: 说出来的 (what has been said — 的 nominalises the verb phrase) + 就不属于我了 (then no longer belongs to me). The 的 turns 说出来 into a noun-equivalent: "that which has been said." This nominalisation with 的 is a powerful and common device in Chinese for creating elegant, concise noun clauses.
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说 (shuō) — IPA: /ʂuo˥/ — First tone, high and level.
- sh: retroflex sibilant [ʂ] — the tongue tip curls back to the hard palate, producing a sound behind the alveolar ridge. English "sh" [ʃ] is produced further forward in the mouth; Mandarin sh requires the tongue to curl back further. - u: a brief high rounded glide [u] — the lips round briefly before the main vowel - ō: mid-back rounded vowel [o], held at a high, level pitch throughout the first tone
Tone 1: start high and hold — like a sustained musical note. The pitch does not move.
Distinguishing similar syllables: - 说 shuō (1st tone) = say/speak - 水 shuǐ (3rd tone) = water — the tone dips and rises - 睡 shuì (4th tone) = sleep — the tone falls sharply - 谁 shéi (2nd tone) = who — the tone rises
In rapid speech, 说 is sometimes abbreviated to a very brief [ʂo] — the u glide nearly disappears. This is natural in fast colloquial Chinese but the full form is standard.
说话 (shuōhuà): 说 (1st tone) + 话 (4th tone). The pair is among the most common in Chinese. 话 contains the speech radical 讠plus the phonetic component 舌 (shé, tongue) — visually, a mouth speaking through a tongue. A character worth examining carefully.
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