这就是说 (zhè jiù shì shuō) — in other words; that is to say

Definition

A discourse marker that rephrases or restates what was just said in simpler terms. Similar to 即 (that is) but much more colloquial and spoken.

conjunction

in other wordsthat is to say

Examples

，这就是说，。
Tā bú shì yí gè hǎo xué shēng, zhè jiù shì shuō, tā jīng cháng táo kè.
He is not a good student; in other words, he often skips class.
，这就是说，。
Zhè ge jì huà xū yào gèng duō zī jīn, zhè jiù shì shuō, wǒ men dé zhǎo tóu zī rén.
This plan needs more funding; that is to say, we need to find investors.
，这就是说，。
Tā jù jué le yāo qǐng, zhè jiù shì shuō, tā bù xiǎng qù.
She declined the invitation; in other words, she doesn't want to go.

Origin

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 這; 这 is its simplified writing.

辶言這

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk

Sound part声符shēngfú

言

言yán這zhè

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 這, 辶 (walk) combines with 言 for the sound. The character first meant “to meet” and was later used for “this”.

Open 这 →

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

享享xiǎng
京京jīng

An older form paired 享, a temple, with 京, a tower, showing sacrifice at a high place; in 就 the temple part was dropped and a right part for going upward was added.

Open 就 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 是 →

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.

言兌說

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.