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交谈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
交谈jiāotánto discussHSK 6, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #3186, Hard
交谈jiāotánto converseHSK 6, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #3186, Hard
交谈jiāotánchatHSK 6, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #3186, Hard
交谈jiāotándiscussionHSK 6, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #3186, Hard
jiāotán(jiao1tan2)jiao tan T1
  1. 1to discuss
  2. 2to converse
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March 24, 2026

交谈(交談)jiāotán(jiao1tan2)

交谈 (jiāo tán) means to converse or discuss, typically in a casual or informal setting. It emphasizes the exchange of ideas and information between people, often involving back-and-forth dialogue. This term is commonly used in both social and professional contexts when referring to discussions or chats.

Strokes16Frequency#3186DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the act of 交谈 can often reflect relationship dynamics; it is considered polite to engage in conversation, especially during social gatherings. The quality of conversations can significantly impact social harmony and relationship building.

Memory tip

Think of 交 (jiāo) as two people coming together (the two components can represent two people) and 谈 (tán) as the sound of 'talking'—imagine them engaging in a lively chat. The action of interacting visually connects with the idea of conversing.

Meanings of 交谈

jiāotán(jiao1tan2)
1to discuss
2to converse
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About 交谈

交谈Simplified
交談Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 交谈

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AI study notes for 交谈

Quick Contrast

对话 (duìhuà) — use 交谈 for casual conversations, while 对话 is more formal or structured.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 交谈 with 聊天 (liáo tiān), which is more casual and informal. 交谈 is more suitable for discussions that may take place in formal settings, so be mindful of the context. It’s also important to remember that 交谈 requires a two-way conversation, unlike one-sided communication.

HSK Study Tips

While 交谈 is not specifically listed in HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other communication-related terms at HSK 3 and 4, such as 说话 (shuō huà) and 谈话 (tán huà). Focus on practicing dialogues that include this word to improve conversational skills.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 交谈 in a situation where 聊天 would be more appropriate, such as among friends. For example, saying '我们去交谈' (Wǒmen qù jiāo tán) sounds too formal; instead, use '我们去聊天' (Wǒmen qù liáo tiān).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 交谈

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Component characters

交jiāoto hand over
HSK 46 strokes亠
View full entry
谈tánto speak
HSK 410 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say to discuss in Chinese

“to discuss” in Chinese is交谈jiāotán

交谈 (jiāo tán) means to converse or discuss, typically in a casual or informal setting. It emphasizes the exchange of ideas and information between people, often involving back-and-forth dialogue. This term is commonly used in both social and professional contexts when referring to discussions or chats.

When to use 交谈

Learners often confuse 交谈 with 聊天 (liáo tiān), which is more casual and informal. 交谈 is more suitable for discussions that may take place in formal settings, so be mindful of the context. It’s also important to remember that 交谈 requires a two-way conversation, unlike one-sided communication.

交谈 or something close to it

对话 (duìhuà) — use 交谈 for casual conversations, while 对话 is more formal or structured.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 交谈 in a situation where 聊天 would be more appropriate, such as among friends. For example, saying '我们去交谈' (Wǒmen qù jiāo tán) sounds too formal; instead, use '我们去聊天' (Wǒmen qù liáo tiān).

Write 交谈

交
谈

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Frequently asked questions about 交谈

Yes, 交谈 is appropriate for both formal and informal discussions, making it versatile.

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