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按说 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
按说ànshuōin the ordinary course of eventsHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #36089, Very Hard
按说ànshuōordinarilyHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #36089, Very Hard
按说ànshuōnormallyHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #36089, Very Hard
ànshuō(an4shuo1)an shuo T4
  1. 1in the ordinary course of events
  2. 2ordinarily
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March 24, 2026

按说(按說)ànshuō(an4shuo1)

The phrase '按说' (an4 shuo1) means 'ordinarily' or 'in the ordinary course of events.' It is used to express what is expected or typical in a given situation, often introducing a contrast to what actually happened. This phrase is commonly used in conversational contexts to highlight discrepancies between expectation and reality.

Strokes18Frequency#36089DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of expectation versus reality is often reflected in social interactions, where people may express what is 'normally' done versus individual choices. This highlights the importance of social norms in daily life.

Memory tip

Imagine a wise elder saying something should happen '按' (an4, meaning 'according to') what is '说' (shuo1, meaning 'said'). Picture the elder holding a scroll of expected events, symbolizing the norms of life, emphasizing that things usually go a certain way.

Meanings of 按说

ànshuō(an4shuo1)
1in the ordinary course of events
2ordinarily
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About 按说

按说Simplified
按說Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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AI study notes for 按说

Quick Contrast

一般来说 (yībān lái shuō) - use '按说' when emphasizing a contrast to an unexpected outcome, while '一般来说' is more neutral and does not imply a contrast.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse '按说' with '说' alone, leading to incomplete expressions. It is generally informal but can appear in semi-formal contexts. Common collocations include '按说应该' (it should ordinarily be) and be careful with the tone, ensuring '按' is pronounced with the fourth tone and '说' with the first.

HSK Study Tips

For HSK learners, '按说' connects well with other expressions relating to expectation and reality, such as '应该' (should) and '通常' (usually). Focus on using it in sentences to practice contrasting expected outcomes with actual results.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes mistakenly use '按说' in contexts where it doesn't fit, such as '我按说去商店' (I ordinarily go to the store). The correct form should be '我按说应该去商店' (I should ordinarily go to the store).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 按说

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Component characters

按ànto press
HSK 49 strokes扌
View full entry
说shuōto say
HSK 19 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say in the ordinary course of events in Chinese

“in the ordinary course of events” in Chinese is按说ànshuō

The phrase '按说' (an4 shuo1) means 'ordinarily' or 'in the ordinary course of events.' It is used to express what is expected or typical in a given situation, often introducing a contrast to what actually happened. This phrase is commonly used in conversational contexts to highlight discrepancies between expectation and reality.

When to use 按说

Learners often confuse '按说' with '说' alone, leading to incomplete expressions. It is generally informal but can appear in semi-formal contexts. Common collocations include '按说应该' (it should ordinarily be) and be careful with the tone, ensuring '按' is pronounced with the fourth tone and '说' with the first.

按说 or something close to it

一般来说 (yībān lái shuō) - use '按说' when emphasizing a contrast to an unexpected outcome, while '一般来说' is more neutral and does not imply a contrast.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes mistakenly use '按说' in contexts where it doesn't fit, such as '我按说去商店' (I ordinarily go to the store). The correct form should be '我按说应该去商店' (I should ordinarily go to the store).

Write 按说

按
说

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Frequently asked questions about 按说

While '按说' is generally informal, it can be used in semi-formal contexts. However, it is best to be cautious and consider using more formal alternatives in official presentations.

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