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解说 (jiě shuō) — to explain (orally), to give an explanation; to provide running commentary (sports, events, etc.)

Definition

解说 means to explain aloud or narrate events as they happen (sports, ceremonies, tours). Contrast with 讲解, which is more instructional and detailed, often in a classroom or guided setting.

verb
to explain (orally)to give an explanationto provide running commentary (sports, events, etc.)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 解说。
    Zhè wèi jì zhě zhèng zài jiě shuō zǒng tǒng de yǎn jiǎng.
    This reporter is explaining the president's speech.
  • 解说，。
    Zú qiú bǐ sài de jiě shuō fēi cháng jīng cǎi, guān zhòng dōu tīng dé hěn rù shén.
    The commentary for the football match was so exciting that the audience listened intently.
  • 解说。
    Qǐng nǐ yòng jiǎn dān de yǔ yán jiě shuō yí xià zhè ge kē xué yuán lǐ.
    Please explain this scientific principle in simple language.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

解jiěexplain
说shuōspeak

Both 解 and 说 involve explaining, giving the sense of an oral explanation.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

Open 解 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 說; 说 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì說shuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 說 pairs 言 (meaning) with 兌 (sound); the simplified 说 is not the form described here.

Open 说 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Communication & Speech

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.