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诉说 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
诉说sùshuōto recountHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #15689, Very Hard
诉说sùshuōto tell ofHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #15689, Very Hard
诉说sùshuōto relateHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #15689, Very Hard
诉说sùshuō(fig.) (of a thing) to stand as testament to (some past history)HSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #15689, Very Hard
sùshuō(su4shuo1)su shuo T4
  1. 1to recount
  2. 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.

Strokes16Frequency#15689DifficultyVery Hard
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
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About 诉说

诉说Simplified
訴說Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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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.

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.

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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Component characters

诉sùto complain
HSK 47 strokes讠
View full entry
说shuōto say
HSK 19 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say to recount in Chinese

“to recount” in Chinese is诉说sùshuō

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.

When to use 诉说

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.

诉说 or something close to it

叙述 (xùshù) is more formal and typically used for structured storytelling, while 诉说 (sùshuō) emphasizes personal or emotional recounting.

What learners get wrong

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.

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诉
说

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Frequently asked questions about 诉说

Yes, but it is more commonly used in informal contexts or personal narratives.

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