(fig.) (of a thing) to stand as testament to (some past history)
HSK 7, unknown, rank #15689, Hard
sùshuō(su4shuo1) T4
1to recount
2to tell of
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March 24, 2026
诉说(訴說)sùshuō(su4shuo1)
诉说 (sù shuō) means to recount or narrate a story or experience. It is often used in contexts where someone is sharing personal experiences or emotional stories, conveying a sense of testimony or witness to past events.
Frequency#15689DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, storytelling is a significant tradition, often seen in oral history and folklore. 诉说 reflects the value placed on sharing personal narratives and preserving collective memory.
Memory Tip
Imagine a storyteller (诉) with a flowing robe (说) standing under a tree, recounting tales of the past to listeners. The flowing robe can remind you of the act of recounting, while the act of storytelling connects to the pronunciation 'shuō'.
Meanings of 诉说
sùshuō(su4shuo1)
1to recount
2to tell of
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 诉说
诉说Simplified
訴說Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 诉说
Podcast: 诉说
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AI Study Notes for 诉说
Quick Contrast
叙述 (xùshù) is more formal and typically used for structured storytelling, while 诉说 (sùshuō) emphasizes personal or emotional recounting.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a storyteller (诉) with a flowing robe (说) standing under a tree, recounting tales of the past to listeners. The flowing robe can remind you of the act of recounting, while the act of storytelling connects to the pronunciation 'shuō'.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 诉说 with similar words like 讲述 (jiǎng shù), which is more formal and used in literary contexts. It’s commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, but tends to have an emotional or personal touch. Remember to use the correct tones to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
While 诉说 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with HSK Level 4 words related to communication and storytelling, like 讲 (jiǎng) and 说 (shuō). Focus on contextual usage to differentiate it from synonyms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, storytelling is a significant tradition, often seen in oral history and folklore. 诉说 reflects the value placed on sharing personal narratives and preserving collective memory.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 诉说 with 叙述 (xù shù), which can change the nuance of their sentences. For example, saying '我诉说这个故事' (wǒ sù shuō zhège gùshì) is correct, but using 叙述 would imply a more formal recounting, losing the personal touch.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 诉说
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Cultural Notes for 诉说
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, storytelling is a significant tradition, often seen in oral history and folklore. 诉说 reflects the value placed on sharing personal narratives and preserving collective memory.
Frequently Asked Questions about 诉说
Yes, but it is more commonly used in informal contexts or personal narratives.
诉说 often conveys a more emotional or personal recounting, while 讲述 is more formal and structured.
No, it can also refer to recounting events or histories that are significant, not just personal.
