Chinese Verb "说" (shuō)

to say / to speak

Communication verb

Basic Usage

Basic

Subject + 说 + language/content

我说中文。

Wǒ shuō Zhōngwén.

I speak Chinese.

Completed Action (了 (le))

Completed with 了

Subject + 说 + 了 + content

他说了实话。

Tā shuō le shíhuà.

He told the truth.

Experience (过 (guò))

Experience with 过

Subject + 说 + 过 + content

我说过很多次了。

Wǒ shuō guò hěn duō cì le.

I've said it many times.

Ongoing Action (在/着)

In progress

Subject + 在 + 说 + object

他在说话。

Tā zài shuōhuà.

He is talking.

Future / Intent (会/要/想)

Future with 会

Subject + 会 + 说 + language

他会说三种语言。

Tā huì shuō sān zhǒng yǔyán.

He can speak three languages.

Negation (不/没)

Negative with 不

Subject + 不说 + object

她不说英文。

Tā bù shuō Yīngwén.

She doesn't speak English.

Negative past

Subject + 没说

他没说什么。

Tā méi shuō shénme.

He didn't say anything.

Common Compounds & Related Words

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
说话	shuōhuà	to speak / to talk
说明	shuōmíng	to explain
听说	tīngshuō	to hear that / it is said
小说	xiǎoshuō	novel / fiction

Example Sentences

请说慢一点。

Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn.

Please speak more slowly.

你说什么？

Nǐ shuō shénme?

What did you say?

听说他要结婚了。

Tīngshuō tā yào jiéhūn le.

I heard he is getting married.