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March 24, 2026
说话(說話)shuōhuà(shuo1hua4)
说话 (shuōhuà) means 'to speak' or 'to talk.' It is commonly used in everyday conversations when referring to the act of communicating verbally. This term can also imply telling stories or gossiping, highlighting its informal usage in social contexts.
Frequency#383DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of 说话 can carry significant social weight, particularly in gatherings where storytelling is valued. It's often seen as a way to build relationships and share experiences, reflecting the importance of community.
Memory Tip
Think of 说 (shuō) as a person speaking with a mouth, while 话 (huà) represents the words coming out. Visualize someone passionately talking about their day, where the sound of their voice is like a bubbling stream, flowing with stories and gossip.
Meanings of 说话
shuōhuà(shuo1hua4)
1to speak
2to say
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About 说话
说话Simplified
說話Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#383Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 说话
Podcast: 说话
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AI Study Notes for 说话
Quick Contrast
说话 (to speak) vs 讲话 (to give a speech) — use 说话 for informal conversation, while 讲话 is more formal and structured.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 说 (shuō) as a person speaking with a mouth, while 话 (huà) represents the words coming out. Visualize someone passionately talking about their day, where the sound of their voice is like a bubbling stream, flowing with stories and gossip.
Usage Notes
When using 说话, be mindful of the context; it is informal and may not suit formal situations. A common mistake is to confuse it with 说 (shuō), which means 'to say' without the nuance of conversation. Remember to use appropriate tones, as mispronunciation can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 说话 connects well with other action verbs like 听 (tīng, to listen) and 看 (kàn, to look). Students should practice using it in sentences to describe actions related to communication.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of 说话 can carry significant social weight, particularly in gatherings where storytelling is valued. It's often seen as a way to build relationships and share experiences, reflecting the importance of community.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 说话 in formal contexts, where 讲话 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '他在会议上说话' (Tā zài huìyì shàng shuōhuà) should be corrected to '他在会议上讲话' (Tā zài huìyì shàng jiǎnghuà).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 说话
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Grammar Patterns of 说话
说话 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
tā wēn róu dì zé bèi tā：“ ：“ nǐ yào duō xiū， xī ， shǎo。”
She admonished him gently, "You should rest, not talk so much."
2
“嗯，”他承认道，“我有时候说话的确有点吐字不清。”
“ “，” ňg ，” tā chéng，“ rèn dào ，“ wǒ yǒu shí hòu shuō huà de què yǒu diǎn tǔ。”
"Well," he conceded, "I do sometimes mumble a bit."
3
他母亲身子前倾，小声而急切地跟他说话。
tā mǔ qīn shēn zǐ qián qīng， ， xiǎo shēng ér jí qiē dì gēn tā shuō。
His mother leaned forward and spoke to him in urgent undertones.
4
他说话时声音沙哑颤抖。
tā shuō huà shí shēng yīn shā yǎ chàn dǒu。
When he spoke, his voice was hoarse and cracked.
5
克罗斯清了清嗓子，开始有礼貌地低声说话。
kè luó sī qīng le qīng sǎng zǐ， ， kāi shǐ yǒu lǐ mào dì dī shēng shuō。
Cross cleared his throat and spoke in low, polite tones.
6
如果你碰巧能和他说话，让他给我打个电话。
rú guǒ nǐ pèng qiǎo néng hé tā shuō huà， ， ràng tā gěi wǒ dǎ gè diàn。
If you happen to talk to him, have him call me.
7
你说话像个糊里糊涂耽于幻想的人。
nǐ shuō huà xiàng gè hū lǐ hū tú dān yú huàn xiǎng de rén。
You're talking like an addled romantic.
8
亲爱的，好了，别这么大声说话打扰他。
qīn ài de， ， hǎo， le ， bié zhè mó dà shēng shuō huà dǎ。
Now don't talk so loud and bother him, honey.
9
他说话没个轻重，得罪了许多人。
tā shuō huà méi gè qīng zhòng， ， dé zuì le xǔ duō。
He had alienated many people with his tactless remarks.
10
此刻没人跟我说话。
cǐ kè méi rén gēn wǒ shuō huà。
At the moment, no one is talking to me.
Cultural Notes for 说话
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of 说话 can carry significant social weight, particularly in gatherings where storytelling is valued. It's often seen as a way to build relationships and share experiences, reflecting the importance of community.
Frequently Asked Questions about 说话
You can say, '我喜欢说话' (Wǒ xǐhuān shuōhuà) meaning 'I like to talk.'
It's generally too informal for formal contexts; use 讲话 (jiǎnghuà) for formal speaking.
说 (shuō) means 'to say' and can be used in more contexts, while 说话 specifically refers to the act of talking.
