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讲话 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
讲话jiǎnghuàa speechHSK 5, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #1883, Hard
讲话jiǎnghuàto speakHSK 5, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #1883, Hard
讲话jiǎnghuàto talkHSK 5, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #1883, Hard
讲话jiǎnghuàto addressHSK 5, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #1883, Hard
jiǎnghuà(jiang3hua4)jiang hua T3
  1. 1a speech
  2. 2to speak
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March 24, 2026

讲话(講話)jiǎnghuà(jiang3hua4)

讲话 (jiǎnghuà) means 'to speak' or 'to talk,' often referring to the act of addressing an audience or a group. It can also be used in a more casual sense among friends or colleagues. This term is frequently used in formal contexts, such as giving speeches or presentations.

Strokes14Frequency#1883DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, giving a speech or addressing a group is a significant act that reflects respect and formality. Public speaking is often associated with leadership and authority, making 讲话 an important term in both business and social contexts.

Memory Tip

Think of 讲话 (jiǎnghuà) as 'jang' (a sound of talking) and 'hua' (which sounds like 'huh' that you might say while listening). Visualize a speaker on stage, passionately 'janging' about their ideas, with 'hua' (words) flowing out to the audience.

Meanings of 讲话

jiǎnghuà(jiang3hua4)
1a speech
2to speak
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 讲话

讲话Simplified
講話Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

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Podcast: 讲话

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AI Study Notes for 讲话

Quick Contrast

演讲 (yǎnjiǎng) refers specifically to a formal speech or presentation, while 讲话 (jiǎnghuà) can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 讲话 is often used in formal situations, and using it in casual settings may sound too stiff. Common collocations include 讲话时间 (talking time) and 讲话内容 (speech content). Remember to use the correct tones: 讲话 is pronounced with a falling tone followed by a rising tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 讲话 is not specifically listed in HSK vocabulary, it connects to other speaking-related words at HSK 3, such as 说 (shuō) meaning 'to say' or 'to tell.' Focus on practicing the tones and using it in sentences about discussions or speeches.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 讲话 with 说 (shuō) and use it inappropriately in casual contexts. For example, saying 你为什么讲话? (Nǐ wèishéme jiǎnghuà?) in a casual setting can sound awkward; it's better to use 你为什么说? (Nǐ wèishéme shuō?).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 讲话

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Component Characters

讲jiǎngto speak
HSK 36 strokes讠
View full entry
话huàspoken words
HSK 18 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say a speech in Chinese

“a speech” in Chinese is讲话jiǎnghuà

讲话 (jiǎnghuà) means 'to speak' or 'to talk,' often referring to the act of addressing an audience or a group. It can also be used in a more casual sense among friends or colleagues. This term is frequently used in formal contexts, such as giving speeches or presentations.

When to use 讲话

Be mindful that 讲话 is often used in formal situations, and using it in casual settings may sound too stiff. Common collocations include 讲话时间 (talking time) and 讲话内容 (speech content). Remember to use the correct tones: 讲话 is pronounced with a falling tone followed by a rising tone.

讲话 or something close to it

演讲 (yǎnjiǎng) refers specifically to a formal speech or presentation, while 讲话 (jiǎnghuà) can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 讲话 with 说 (shuō) and use it inappropriately in casual contexts. For example, saying 你为什么讲话? (Nǐ wèishéme jiǎnghuà?) in a casual setting can sound awkward; it's better to use 你为什么说? (Nǐ wèishéme shuō?).

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话

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Frequently Asked Questions about 讲话

Yes, but it may sound too formal among friends; use 说 (shuō) instead.

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