Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
不用说 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
不用说needless to say; it goes without sayingHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #9576, Very Hard
  1. 1needless to say; it goes without saying
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

不用说

不用说 (bú yòng shuō) translates to 'needless to say' or 'no need to say.' It is commonly used to indicate that something is obvious or that further explanation is unnecessary. This phrase is often employed in both spoken and written Chinese to emphasize a point that the listener is expected to already understand.

Strokes18Frequency#9576DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, people often value indirect communication and subtlety, making the use of 不用说 a way to express understanding without explicitly stating the obvious. This reflects the cultural preference for harmony and avoiding unnecessary confrontation.

Memory tip

Imagine a person waving their hand dismissively while saying 'no need to say' after a statement. The character 不 (bù) looks like a person standing with their arms crossed, indicating a refusal, while 用 (yòng) suggests utility or use, and 说 (shuō) means to speak. Together, they form a picture of someone saying something without needing to say it.

Meanings of 不用说

Exercise 1 of 1

In English

What does 不用说 mean in English?

不用说

About 不用说

不用说Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 不用说

JasonAmy

Podcast: 不用说

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 不用说

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 不用说 with similar phrases like 不必说 (bù bì shuō), which has a slightly different connotation. This phrase is informal and is best used in conversations rather than formal writing. It often collocates with phrases indicating obviousness or certainty.

HSK Study Tips

Although 不用说 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it can be useful for HSK 3 and above learners as they expand their conversational skills. Focus on understanding the context in which it is used, especially in discussions where the obviousness of a situation is emphasized.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 不用说 by applying it in overly formal contexts or using it when they should clarify instead. For example, saying '不用说' after a complex argument can confuse listeners; instead, clarifying would be more appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 不用说

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 不用说, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 不用说 to you

Let me explain 不用说 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 不用说 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 不用说?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 不用说 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry
用yòngto use
HSK 35 strokes用
View full entry
说shuōto say
HSK 19 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say needless to say; it goes without saying in Chinese

“needless to say; it goes without saying” in Chinese is不用说

不用说 (bú yòng shuō) translates to 'needless to say' or 'no need to say.' It is commonly used to indicate that something is obvious or that further explanation is unnecessary. This phrase is often employed in both spoken and written Chinese to emphasize a point that the listener is expected to already understand.

When to use 不用说

Be careful not to confuse 不用说 with similar phrases like 不必说 (bù bì shuō), which has a slightly different connotation. This phrase is informal and is best used in conversations rather than formal writing. It often collocates with phrases indicating obviousness or certainty.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 不用说 by applying it in overly formal contexts or using it when they should clarify instead. For example, saying '不用说' after a complex argument can confuse listeners; instead, clarifying would be more appropriate.

Write 不用说

不
用
说

Practice writing 不用说 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 不用说?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Frequently asked questions about 不用说

You can use 不用说 when you want to indicate that something is obvious and doesn't need further explanation.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 不用说?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab