Correct
聊 vs 谈
/ liáo vs tán /
Strokes
Definition
聊 and 谈 are both Verbs, which mean “chat; talk”.
Example
谈 means "talk", it can be applied on occasion either formal or casual, whereas 聊 must be casual. The following examples concern serious matters, so 谈 is used.
Note: One can only say 谈话, not 聊话
1
Liǎng
两
guó
国
lǐngdǎorén
领导人
zài
在
tán
谈
dào
到
duìfāng
对方
de
的
lǐngtǔ
领土
zhēngduān
争端
wèntí
问题
shí
时
,
dōu
都
biǎoshì
表示
jiāng
将
yǐ
以
hépíng
和平
de
的
fāngshì
方式
jiějué
解决
。
When it came to their territorial disputes,the leaders of two countries expressed that this should be solved peacefully.
2
Xiǎozhāng
小张
zài
在
gōngzuò
工作
zhōng
中
chū
出
le
了
wèntí
问题
,
jīnglǐ
经理
yào
要
tā
他
dào
到
bàngōngshì
办公室
tánhuà
谈话
。
There's something wrong with Xiao Zhang's work,so he was asked to have a talk with his manager.
3
Nǐ
你
yǒu
有
shénme
什么
wéinán
为难
de
的
shì
事
,
jiù
就
gēn
跟
gēge
哥哥
tán
谈
bā
吧
!
If you have some difficulties, please tell me.
4
Shuāngfāng
双方
zài
在
yánjiū
研究
rúhé
如何
hézuò
合作
de
的
wèntí
问题
shí
时
,
tán
谈
de
得
hěn
很
yúkuài
愉快
。
The two parties had an unpleasant talk about their cooperation.
The following examples concern informal topics, so either words, 聊, and 谈 can be used.
5
Hējiǔ
喝酒
shí
时
,
liǎng
两
gè
个
péngyou
朋友
tán
谈
(
liáo
聊
)
de
得
hěn
很
tóuhé
投合
。
The two friends talked very congenially over their drinking.
6
Xiǎozhāng
小张
,
zánmen
咱们
suíbiàn
随便
tán
谈
yī
一
tán
谈
(
liáo
聊
yī
一
liáo
聊
)
bā
吧
!
Xiao Zhang, let's have a chat.
谈 also means "discussion, talk", which can be used in set phrases.
Eg. 美谈 (story passed on with approval), 趣谈 (funny story), 奇谈 (strange tale).
It is also used in the title of a column of newspapers or magazines, eg.
《自由谈》(On Freedom)
《一夕谈》(A Day's Talk)
《一席谈》(On Conversation)
《古今谈》(On History)
It is also used in the title of a column of newspapers or magazines, eg.
《自由谈》(On Freedom)
《一夕谈》(A Day's Talk)
《一席谈》(On Conversation)
《古今谈》(On History)
7
Lǔxùn
鲁迅
zēng
曾
xiě
写
guò
过
yī
一
piān
篇
tǎolùn
讨论
hànzì
汉字
wèntí
问题
de
得
wénzhāng
文章
《
ménwài
门外
wén
文
tán
谈
》
。
Lu Xun once wrote an article discussing the issue of Chinese characters, "Menwai Wentan".
8
《
yǐnchá
饮茶
gǔjīn
古今
tán
谈
》
shì
是
běnqī
本期
zhège
这个
zázhì
杂志
de
得
yī
一
gè
个
zhuānlán
专栏
。
"On Tea History" is a column in this issue of this magazine.
谈 can form some set phrases about activities concerning love and marriage.
9
Tāmen
他们
liǎ
俩
zhèngzài
正在
tánliànài
谈恋爱
。
They are in love now.
10
Tā
她
duìxiàng
对象
tán
谈
hǎo
好
le
了
méiyǒu
没有
?
Has she met her Mr. Right?
11
Tā
他
yī
一
nián
年
tán
谈
le
了
hǎojǐ
好几
gè
个
duìxiàng
对象
。
He changed several girlfriends a year.