Correct
讲 vs 说
/ jiǎng vs shuō /
Strokes
Definition
讲 and 说 are both Verbs, which means “speak, say, tell”.
Example
讲 and 说 mean "to express with words".
说 is more casual and 讲 is more formal, e.g. 讲故事 (tell a tale), 说闲话 (gossip, make sarcastic or critical comments), etc.
In examles ① ② ③ ④, 讲 and 说 are interchangeable, but northern Chinese use 说 more often, while the southerners use 讲 more often.
In examles ① ② ③ ④, 讲 and 说 are interchangeable, but northern Chinese use 说 more often, while the southerners use 讲 more often.
1
Tā
他
duì
对
wǒ
我
shuō
说
(
jiǎng
讲
)
:
biè
别
wàng
忘
le
了
míngtiān
明天
de
的
shì
事
。
She told me not to forget what to do tomorrow.
2
Wǒ
我
bùhuì
不会
chànggē
唱歌
,
jiù
就
shuō
说
(
jiǎng
讲
)
gè
个
xiàohuà
笑话
bā
吧
。
Since I can't sing, I‘d like to tell a joke.
讲 and 说 mean "to explain".
3
Fāshēng
发生
le
了
wùhuì
误会
,
shuāngfāng
双方
shuō
说
(
jiǎng
讲
)
qīngchu
清楚
jiù
就
háng
行
le
了
。
It will be OK if you two parties make clear about the misunderstanding.
4
Tā
他
xiángxì
详细
dì
地
gěi
给
wǒ
我
shuō
说
le
了
shuō
说
(
jiǎng
讲
le
了
jiǎng
讲
)
zhèzhǒng
这种
diànqì
电器
de
的
gōngzuò
工作
yuánlǐ
原理
hé
和
shǐyòng
使用
fāngfǎ
方法
。
He introduced the structure of the electric appliance and how to use it in detail.
讲 means "to expound" and is often used in teaching.
5
Jīntiān
今天
wáng
王
lǎoshī
老师
yào
要
jiǎng
讲
hànyǔ
汉语
de
的
bǎ
把
zìjù
字句
。
Today, Teacher Wang will give us a lesson on sentences with 把.
6
Míngtiān
明天
lǎoshī
老师
yào
要
jiǎng
讲
dìwǔ
第五
kè
课
。
Tomorrow, the teacher will teach lesson five.
讲 also means "to negotiate so as to get an advantageous result".
7
Rúguǒ
如果
nǐ
你
yǒuxīn
有心
mǎi
买
zhè
这
jī
几
jiān
间
fáng
房
,
nǐ
你
kěyǐ
可以
hé
和
fáng
房
zhǔjiǎng
主讲
jiàqián
价钱
。
You can bargain with the house owner if you want to buy it.
8
Shànyǎng
赡养
lǎorén
老人
zěn
怎
néng
能
jiǎng
讲
tiáojiàn
条件
?
How can you raise terms about supporting the seniors.
讲 also means “as far as something is concerned”.
9
Jiǎng
讲
tǐlì
体力
,
tā
他
bùrú
不如
nǐ
你
;
jiǎng
讲
jìshù
技术
,
tā
他
bǐ
比
nǐ
你
jiàng
强
。
He does not match you in terms of strength, but he is more skillful.
10
Jiǎng
讲
qǐ
起
nǔlì
努力
lái
来
,
tā
他
bǐ
比
nǐ
你
nǔlì
努力
duō
多
le
了
。
Talking about trying hard, he's working harder than you.
讲 also means “to lay emphasis on or pay special attention to”.
11
Cóngxiǎo
从小
jiùyào
就要
yǎngchéng
养成
jiǎng
讲
wèishēng
卫生
de
的
hǎo
好
xíguàn
习惯
。
We should develop a good hygiene habit.
12
Péngyou
朋友
zhījiān
之间
yào
要
jiǎng
讲
xìnyòng
信用
。
There should be credit between friends.
13
Qǐyè
企业
yào
要
jiǎng
讲
xiàoyì
效益
。
The enterprise must strive for effect and benefit.
说 sometimes means "to criticize or reproach".
14
Háizi
孩子
rě
惹
le
了
huò
祸
,
bèi
被
māma
妈妈
shuō
说
le
了
yī
一
dùn
顿
。
The child was criticized by his mother for his bad deed.
15
Yīnwèi
因为
liánxù
连续
jī
几
tiān
天
chídào
迟到
,
tā
他
zuótiān
昨天
āi
挨
shuō
说
le
了
。
He was scolded yesterday because he was late successively for several times.
说 can also mean "to recommend somebody for marriage.
16
Lǎorén
老人
yī
一
jiàndào
见到
dānshēn
单身
de
的
qīngniánrén
青年人
,
jiù
就
bùhuì
不会
cuòguò
错过
yī
一
cì
次
shuōméi
说媒
de
的
jīhuì
机会
。
When the old man sees a single young man, he will not miss an opportunity as a matchmaker.
17
Nánhái
男孩
jīnnián
今年
dōu
都
30
30
suì
岁
le
了
,
māma
妈妈
pòqiè
迫切
xiǎng
想
gěi
给
tā
他
shuō
说
gè
个
xífù
媳妇
。
The boys are all 30 years old this year, and his mother was eager to introduce him to a wife.
18
Nǚhái
女孩
yǐjīng
已经
28
28
suì
岁
le
了
,
māma
妈妈
xiǎng
想
gěi
给
tā
她
shuō
说
gè
个
pójia
婆家
。
The girl is 28 years old, and her mother wants to find a husband for her.