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讨论 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
讨论tǎolùnto discussHSK 4, v, rank #1011, Medium
讨论tǎolùnto talk overHSK 4, v, rank #1011, Medium
讨论tǎolùn>个[gè]HSK 4, v, rank #1011, Medium
tǎolùn(tao3lun4) T3
  1. 1to discuss
  2. 2to talk over
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March 24, 2026
讨论(討論)tǎolùn(tao3lun4)

讨论 (tǎo lùn) means to discuss or talk over a topic with others. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, such as in meetings or casual conversations, emphasizing the act of exchanging ideas and opinions.

Frequency#1011DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussing topics openly is encouraged in group settings, such as family gatherings or business meetings, reflecting a collective approach to decision-making and problem-solving.

Memory Tip

Think of '讨论' as a 'tall lunatic' discussing ideas passionately. The '讨论' characters combine '讨' (to discuss) with '论' (to argue or debate), where '讨' looks like a person standing and '论' suggests the back-and-forth of an argument.

Meanings of 讨论

tǎolùn(tao3lun4)
1to discuss
2to talk over
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 讨论

讨论Simplified
討論Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1011Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 讨论

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Podcast: 讨论

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AI Study Notes for 讨论

Quick Contrast

交流 (jiāoliú) — use 讨论 (tǎolùn) when emphasizing a discussion of ideas, while 交流 (jiāoliú) focuses more on the act of exchanging information or communication.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of '讨论' as a 'tall lunatic' discussing ideas passionately. The '讨论' characters combine '讨' (to discuss) with '论' (to argue or debate), where '讨' looks like a person standing and '论' suggests the back-and-forth of an argument.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 讨论 with 谈论 (tán lùn), which can imply a more casual discussion. This word is neutral in tone but can be used in both formal and informal settings, making it versatile. Common collocations include 讨论问题 (discuss issues) and 讨论方案 (discuss proposals).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 讨论 connects well with other verbs related to communication, such as 说 (to speak) and 聊 (to chat). Focus on using it in sentences that require expressing opinions or ideas collaboratively.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussing topics openly is encouraged in group settings, such as family gatherings or business meetings, reflecting a collective approach to decision-making and problem-solving.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 讨论 in a context where a more casual word like 谈论 would be appropriate. For example, saying '我们来讨论一下' in a very informal setting may sound overly serious; instead, use '我们聊聊吧' (let's chat).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 讨论

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Component Characters

讨tǎoto invite
HSK 75 strokes讠
View full entry
论lúnopinion
HSK 56 strokes讠
View full entry

Write 讨论

讨
论

Practice writing 讨论 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 讨论

讨论 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 3 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.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

专家们对这个问题进行了____，并且提出了解决办法。

The experts discussed this problem and moreover proposed a solution.

Example Sentences for 讨论 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我和诺特曼讨论了这个想法的可行性。

wǒ hé nuò tè màn tǎo lùn le zhè gè xiǎng fǎ de kě háng xìng。

Knotman and I discussed the practicability of the idea.
2
他和我把这个棘手的问题整个儿都讨论清楚了。

tā hé wǒ bǎ zhè gè jí shǒu de wèn tí zhěng gè ér dū tǎo lùn qīng chǔ le。

He and I have talked through this whole tricky problem.
3
在社交场合讨论生意被认为是不礼貌的。

zài shè jiāo cháng hé tǎo lùn shēng yì bèi rèn wéi shì bù lǐ mào de。

It was thought bad form to discuss business on social occasions.
4
查看正在讨论的这段文字前面的信息。

chá kàn zhèng zài tǎo lùn de zhè duàn wén zì qián miàn de xìn xī。

Look at the information that precedes the paragraph in question.
5
这是对早先讨论过的很多事情的否定。

zhè shì duì zǎo xiān tǎo lùn guò de hěn duō shì qíng de fǒu dìng。

This is a rejection of most of what has gone before.
6
关于工业为何陷入困境正在展开一场全面的讨论。

guān yú gōng yè wéi hé xiàn rù kùn jìng zhèng zài zhǎn kāi yī cháng quán miàn de tǎo lùn。

A full-scale debate is under way on what ails the industry.
7
这可不是头脑一热作出的决定。我们事先仔细地讨论过。

zhè kě bù shì tóu nǎo yī rè zuò chū de jué dìng。 。 wǒ mén shì xiān zī xì dì tǎo lùn。

It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. We discussed it in detail beforehand.
8
我和内德极为深入地讨论了每一件事。

wǒ hé nèi dé jí wéi shēn rù dì tǎo lùn le měi yī jiàn shì。

Ned and I discussed everything to the nth degree.
9
有几个提案州议会正在讨论中。

yǒu jī gè tí àn zhōu yì huì zhèng zài tǎo lùn zhōng。

Several proposals are under consideration by the state assembly.
10
惺惺相惜了半个小时后，我们转而讨论一些更为实际的问题。

xīng xīng xiāng xī le bàn gè xiǎo shí hòu， ， wǒ mén zhuǎn ér tǎo lùn yī xiē gēng wéi shí jì de wèn。

After half an hour's commis-eration, we turned to more practical matters.

Cultural Notes for 讨论

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, discussing topics openly is encouraged in group settings, such as family gatherings or business meetings, reflecting a collective approach to decision-making and problem-solving.

Frequently Asked Questions about 讨论

You can say '我们来讨论这个问题吧' (Let's discuss this issue).