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难说 (nán shuō) — it's hard to say; you can't tell

Definition

A set expression meaning 'it's hard to say / you can't tell,' used when the outcome is uncertain. Typically comments on a whole situation rather than a single fact.

it's hard to sayyou can't tell

Examples

  • ，难说。
    Zhè jiàn shì shén me shí hou néng wán chéng, shí zài nán shuō.
    It's really hard to say when this task can be finished.
  • 难说。
    nán shuō Tā huì bú huì tóng yì wǒ men de jì huà.
    You can't tell whether he will agree to our plan.
  • ，难说。
    Tā dào dǐ xǐ bu xǐ huan nǐ, zhè ge nán shuō.
    It's hard to say whether she likes you or not.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

难nándifficult
说shuōsay

The sense of '难' (difficult) combines with '说' (say) to express that something is hard to state.

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 難; 难 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
隹隹zhuībird
Sound part声符shēngfú
暵
暵hàn難nán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional 難 pairs 隹, a bird, with 暵 for sound, and meant a type of bird. It was later borrowed for other meanings; the modern 难 is a shorthand.

Open 难 →

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
Communication & Speech

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