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按说 (àn shuō) — normally, ordinarily (setting up an expectation that is often contradicted)

Definition

Sets up an expectation that something 'normally' or 'logically' should happen — almost always followed by a contrasting outcome (按理 is the same idea, more about logical reason). Different from 平时/平日, which name ordinary times, not expectations.

adverb
normallyordinarily (setting up an expectation that is often contradicted)

Examples

  • 按说，。
    àn shuō Jīn tiān bú huì xià yǔ, kě hái shì xià yǔ le.
    Normally it shouldn't rain today, but it did anyway.
  • 按说，。
    àn shuō Zhè ge gōng zuò hěn jiǎn dān, méi xiǎng dào zhè me fù zá.
    This job should have been simple, but I didn't expect it to be so complicated.
  • 按说，。
    àn shuō Tā bú huì jù jué, shuí zhī tā yì kǒu huí jué le.
    Normally he wouldn't refuse, but to my surprise he turned it down flat.

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.

按ànaccording to
说shuōspeak; say

The according-to part modifies the speaking part, giving the sense of ordinary expectation.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
安
安ān按àn
Same sound today

按 has 扌, the hand radical, and 安. The hand part points to an action done with the hand, while 安 supplies the sound and the idea of being at ease, linked to pressing down.

Open 按 →

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 7-9

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