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说情 (shuō qíng) — to intercede, to plead for someone else

Definition

说情 means to intercede or plead on someone else's behalf — asking a person in power to be lenient or grant a favor. Often used with 替/为 + person, e.g. 替他说情.

verb
to intercedeto plead for someone else

Examples

  • ？
    Nǐ néng bù néng tì wǒ gēn lǎo bǎn shuō gè qíng?
    Could you put in a good word for me with the boss?
  • 说情，。
    Tā wèi le péng you qù shuō qíng, jié guǒ zì jǐ yě āi le pī píng.
    He went to intercede for his friend, but ended up getting criticized himself.
  • ，。
    Wǒ yǐ jīng xiàng jīng lǐ shuō guò qíng le, dàn tā hái shì bù tóng yì.
    I've already pleaded with the manager, but he still doesn't agree.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

说shuōspeak
情qíngfavor

说情 uses 说 to speak a request and 情 as favor or human feeling, pleading for someone.

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 →

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng情qíng
Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Open 情 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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