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劝说 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
劝说quànshuōto persuadeHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #14322, Very Hard
劝说quànshuōpersuasionHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #14322, Very Hard
劝说quànshuōto adviseHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #14322, Very Hard
quànshuō(quan4shuo1)quan shuo T4
  1. 1to persuade
  2. 2persuasion
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March 24, 2026

劝说(勸說)quànshuō(quan4shuo1)

劝说 (quàn shuō) means to persuade or advise someone to do something. It is commonly used in contexts where convincing someone is necessary, such as in discussions or negotiations. The term conveys a sense of urging someone towards a particular decision or action.

Strokes13Frequency#14322DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, persuasion often involves maintaining harmony and respect, which is reflected in the way 劝说 is used in familial and social contexts. Persuasion is seen as a way to care for others rather than mere argumentation.

Memory tip

Imagine a wise elder (the character 劝) gently urging a young person (the character 说) to make a good choice. Picture them sitting together, where the elder uses soft tones to persuade the youth, helping you remember that 劝说 is about advising and convincing.

Meanings of 劝说

quànshuō(quan4shuo1)
1to persuade
2persuasion
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About 劝说

劝说Simplified
勸說Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 劝说

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AI study notes for 劝说

Quick Contrast

劝告 (quàn gào) vs 劝说 (quàn shuō): use 劝告 when giving advice without the implication of persuasion; 劝说 emphasizes convincing someone to take a specific action.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 劝说, as the second syllable 说 should be pronounced with a high level tone. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but may feel more formal in serious discussions. Common collocations include '劝说别人' (persuade others) and '劝说自己' (convince oneself).

HSK Study Tips

While 劝说 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other verbs related to communication and persuasion, such as 说 (to speak) and 建议 (to suggest). Students should focus on understanding the nuances of advising versus merely stating facts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 劝说 with 说 (to say) and use them interchangeably, as in '我说他去旅行' instead of '我劝说他去旅行'. Remember, 劝说 implies urging someone to take action, not just stating information.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 劝说

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Component characters

劝quànto advise
HSK 54 strokes力
View full entry
说shuōto say
HSK 19 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say to persuade in Chinese

“to persuade” in Chinese is劝说quànshuō

劝说 (quàn shuō) means to persuade or advise someone to do something. It is commonly used in contexts where convincing someone is necessary, such as in discussions or negotiations. The term conveys a sense of urging someone towards a particular decision or action.

When to use 劝说

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 劝说, as the second syllable 说 should be pronounced with a high level tone. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but may feel more formal in serious discussions. Common collocations include '劝说别人' (persuade others) and '劝说自己' (convince oneself).

劝说 or something close to it

劝告 (quàn gào) vs 劝说 (quàn shuō): use 劝告 when giving advice without the implication of persuasion; 劝说 emphasizes convincing someone to take a specific action.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 劝说 with 说 (to say) and use them interchangeably, as in '我说他去旅行' instead of '我劝说他去旅行'. Remember, 劝说 implies urging someone to take action, not just stating information.

Write 劝说

劝
说

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Frequently asked questions about 劝说

You can say '我劝说他去旅行' (I persuade him to travel).

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