说穿 (shuō chuān) — to reveal, to disclose (the truth)

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning 'to see through / to reveal the truth' about a hidden motive, secret, or pretense — emphasizes exposing what something really is, not just telling a fact. Often used with 看: 看穿. Negate as 没(有)说穿, not 不说穿.

verb
to revealto disclose (the truth)

Examples

  • 说穿。
    Tā yí jù huà jiù shuō chuān le zhēn xiàng.
    He revealed the truth with just one sentence.
  • 说穿。
    Zhè ge mì mì zhōng yú bèi rén shuō chuān le.
    This secret was finally disclosed by someone.
  • 说穿。
    Tā yì yǎn jiù kàn shuō chuān le wǒ de xīn si.
    She saw through my thoughts at a glance.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

说shuōspeak
穿chuānthrough

说 means 'speak' and 穿 means 'through', so the idea is speaking something through and revealing it.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

穿 puts 穴 (cave) and 牙 (tooth) together to show passing through or penetrating.

Open 穿 →

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