说来话长 (shuō lái huà cháng) — it's a long story
Definition
A set phrase meaning 'it's a long story' — used to signal that an explanation will take time, often as a standalone reply to a question. Note: labeled as a verb, but it functions as an idiom/predicate and rarely takes an object.
verb
it's a long story
Examples
- 说来话长，。shuō lái huà cháng, Wǒ màn màn gēn nǐ shuō ba.It's a long story — let me tell you slowly.
- ？说来话长！Nǐ wèi shén me lí kāi nà jiā gōng sī? shuō lái huà cháng!Why did you leave that company? It's a long story!
- 说来话长，。Zhè jiàn shì shuō lái huà cháng, sān yán liǎng yǔ shuō bù qīng chǔ.This matter is a long story — a few words can't make it clear.
Appears in
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