Definition
却说 is a fixed expression used in traditional Chinese storytelling (especially in historical novels like 三国演义) to transition to a new storyline or resume a narrative thread after a break. It roughly means 'meanwhile, back to our story' or 'let's now turn to…'. It is pronounced què shuō in standard Mandarin, but the source gives què shuì (possibly a dialectal or archaic reading).
f.e.
(fixed expression) meanwhilelet's resume our story (narrative transition device in traditional fiction)
Examples
- 却说。què shuì Sūn Wùkōng líkāi le Huāguǒ Shān.Now, Sun Wukong left the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits.
- 却说。què shuì Lín Dàiyù jìn dào le Dàguān Yuán.And so, Lin Daiyu entered the Grand View Garden.
- 却说，。què shuì dàjiā zhèng chīzhe fàn, tūrán tīngdào wàimiàn yǒu rén shuōhuà.Meanwhile, as everyone was eating, they suddenly heard someone talking outside.
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