When do I use 讲 vs 谈?

Use 讲 for one-way telling, explaining, or narrating (e.g., 讲故事, 讲课). Use 谈 for two-way discussion or conversation (e.g., 谈谈, 谈判). If you're not sure whether the communication is reciprocal, ask yourself: am I delivering information to someone (讲) or exchanging ideas with someone (谈)?

Can 讲 and 谈 be used interchangeably?

Only in a few specific collocations like 讲条件/谈条件 (negotiate conditions) or 讲话/谈话 (speech/talk). In most contexts they are not interchangeable because 讲 implies a monologue and 谈 implies a dialogue.

What is the difference between 讲 and 说?

说 (shuō) is the most general verb for 'speak' or 'say', covering both one-way and two-way communication. 讲 is more specific to one-way explanation or narration. 谈 is specifically for two-way discussion. For example, '他说了一个故事' is okay but less common than '他讲了一个故事'.

Is 谈 always formal?

Not always; 谈 can be used in casual contexts like 聊聊谈谈 (chatting), but it tends to imply a slightly more purposeful or serious discussion than 聊 (liáo). In everyday conversation, 聊 is more common for casual chats.

Easily confusedHSK 4

讲 vs 谈 (jiǎng vs tán): telling vs discussing

讲 (jiǎng) focuses on one-way narration, explanation, or delivery of information to an audience, while 谈 (tán) emphasizes two-way conversation, discussion, or exchange of opinions. The core difference is whether communication is directed (讲) or interactive (谈).

讲 and 谈 are both Chinese verbs for verbal communication, but they differ in the nature of the exchange. 讲 is used for delivering information unidirectionally — telling a story, giving a lecture, or explaining something. 谈 is used for reciprocal dialogue — discussing, negotiating, or chatting. While they occasionally overlap (e.g., 讲/谈条件), the default choice hinges on whether the speech is directed (讲) or interactive (谈).

When to use each

讲jiǎng

to tell/explain

Use 讲 when you are narrating, explaining, or presenting information to one or more listeners. It implies a one-way flow of information from speaker to audience. Common contexts include giving a speech (讲话), telling a story (讲故事), explaining a lesson (讲课), or clarifying a point (讲清楚).

讲 can also mean 'to emphasize' or 'to be particular about', as in 讲礼貌 (be polite) or 讲卫生 (pay attention to hygiene).

谈tán

to discuss

Use 谈 when two or more people exchange ideas, opinions, or information interactively. It conveys a sense of mutual conversation, discussion, or negotiation. Typical uses include chatting (谈话), having a serious talk (谈心), negotiating (谈判), or discussing a topic (谈问题).

谈 often carries a more formal or serious tone than 聊 (to chat), but it can also be used in everyday conversation (e.g., 谈谈你的想法).

At a glance

	讲	谈
Direction of communication	One-way (speaker → audience)	Two-way (mutual exchange)
Typical register	Formal or informal; can be used in lectures, lessons	Often formal (negotiations, meetings) but also casual chats
Common collocations	讲故事, 讲课, 讲话, 讲道理	谈话, 谈心, 谈判, 谈条件
Can replace the other?	Generally no; using 谈 for a lecture feels odd	Generally no; using 讲 for a discussion implies a monologue

Examples

讲
老师正在讲课。
Lǎo shī zhèng zài jiǎng kè.
The teacher is giving a lesson.
讲课 is a fixed collocation; 谈课 would be incorrect.
谈
我们想谈谈这个问题。
Wǒ men xiǎng tán tán zhè ge wèn tí.
We want to discuss this issue.
谈谈话 (tán tán huà) is common; 讲讲这个问题 sounds like 'explain' rather than 'discuss'.
讲
他给我们讲了一个有趣的故事。
Tā gěi wǒ men jiǎng le yí gè yǒu qù de gù shi.
He told us an interesting story.
讲故事 is a fixed phrase; 谈故事 would mean 'discuss a story' (possible but different).
谈
他们正在谈生意。
Tā men zhèng zài tán shēng yì.
They are discussing business.
谈生意 is a common collocation for business negotiation; 讲生意 would mean 'explain business' (unusual).
讲
请你讲慢一点。
Qǐng nǐ jiǎng màn yì diǎn.
Please speak more slowly.
讲 here means 'speak' in a one-way manner; 谈慢一点 would imply a two-way conversation slowing down.
谈
我们找个时间好好谈谈。
Wǒ men zhǎo gè shí jiān hǎo hǎo tán tán.
Let's find time to have a good talk.
谈谈 implies a mutual exchange; 讲讲 would mean 'tell (something)' and lacks reciprocity.

Common mistakes

Using 谈 for a lecture or speech: e.g., ✗ 教授在谈课 → should be 讲课 or 做讲座.
Using 讲 for a discussion: e.g., ✗ 我们来讲讲这个问题 → if you mean 'discuss', better to use 谈谈.
Confusing 讲条件 (negotiate terms) and 谈条件 (same meaning; both are acceptable, but 讲条件 is more common in casual speech).
Using 谈 when telling a story: e.g., ✗ 他谈了一个故事 → should be 讲了一个故事.

FAQ

When do I use 讲 vs 谈?: Use 讲 for one-way telling, explaining, or narrating (e.g., 讲故事, 讲课). Use 谈 for two-way discussion or conversation (e.g., 谈谈, 谈判). If you're not sure whether the communication is reciprocal, ask yourself: am I delivering information to someone (讲) or exchanging ideas with someone (谈)?
Can 讲 and 谈 be used interchangeably?: Only in a few specific collocations like 讲条件/谈条件 (negotiate conditions) or 讲话/谈话 (speech/talk). In most contexts they are not interchangeable because 讲 implies a monologue and 谈 implies a dialogue.
What is the difference between 讲 and 说?: 说 (shuō) is the most general verb for 'speak' or 'say', covering both one-way and two-way communication. 讲 is more specific to one-way explanation or narration. 谈 is specifically for two-way discussion. For example, '他说了一个故事' is okay but less common than '他讲了一个故事'.
Is 谈 always formal?: Not always; 谈 can be used in casual contexts like 聊聊谈谈 (chatting), but it tends to imply a slightly more purposeful or serious discussion than 聊 (liáo). In everyday conversation, 聊 is more common for casual chats.