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别说 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
别说biéshuōto say nothing of; not to mention; let aloneHSK 7, c, 16 strokes, Very Hard
biéshuō(bie2shuo1)bie shuo T2
  1. 1to say nothing of; not to mention; let alone
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March 24, 2026

别说biéshuō(bie2shuo1)

别说 (bié shuō) is an expression that translates to 'don't say' or 'let's not mention it'. It is often used to advise someone not to talk about a specific topic, usually because it is sensitive or unwelcome. The phrase can also imply that the speaker is aware of the topic but prefers not to discuss it.

Strokes16DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, discussing certain topics like politics or personal finances in casual settings can be considered impolite. 别说 captures this cultural sensitivity about maintaining harmony and avoiding discomfort in conversations.

Memory tip

Imagine a person putting their finger to their lips, signaling silence. The character 别 (bié) looks like a person pushing away something, while 说 (shuō) resembles a mouth speaking. Together, they create the vivid image of someone saying 'don’t speak about it'!

Meanings of 别说

biéshuō(bie2shuo1)
1to say nothing of; not to mention; let alone
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About 别说

别说Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
连词连词conjunction (conj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 别说

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AI study notes for 别说

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 别说 with other phrases that express negation, such as 不要说 (bù yào shuō), which is more direct. 别说 is more informal and is commonly used in casual conversations. It’s often used in conversations involving sensitive subjects.

HSK Study Tips

At HSK Level 3, students should focus on understanding the nuances of negation in spoken Chinese. 别说 is a useful phrase to know as it helps in navigating social conversations where certain topics might need to be avoided.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 别说 in formal contexts where a phrase like 不要提 (bù yào tí) would be more appropriate. Also, they might forget to use the correct tone, leading to confusion over the meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 别说

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Component characters

别biéto leave
HSK 27 strokes刂
View full entry
说shuōto say
HSK 19 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say to say nothing of; not to mention; let alone in Chinese

“to say nothing of; not to mention; let alone” in Chinese is别说biéshuō

别说 (bié shuō) is an expression that translates to 'don't say' or 'let's not mention it'. It is often used to advise someone not to talk about a specific topic, usually because it is sensitive or unwelcome. The phrase can also imply that the speaker is aware of the topic but prefers not to discuss it.

When to use 别说

Be careful not to confuse 别说 with other phrases that express negation, such as 不要说 (bù yào shuō), which is more direct. 别说 is more informal and is commonly used in casual conversations. It’s often used in conversations involving sensitive subjects.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 别说 in formal contexts where a phrase like 不要提 (bù yào tí) would be more appropriate. Also, they might forget to use the correct tone, leading to confusion over the meaning.

Write 别说

别
说

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Frequently asked questions about 别说

Use 别说 when you want to tell someone not to bring up a particular topic, especially if it might cause discomfort.

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