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说闲话 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
说闲话to chat; to gossipHSK 7, unknown, 24 strokes, rank #19615, Very Hard
  1. 1to chat
  2. 2to gossip
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March 24, 2026

说闲话

说闲话 (shuō xián huà) refers to talking about trivial matters or gossiping. This phrase is often used in informal contexts where people engage in light-hearted conversation that lacks serious content or purpose.

Strokes24Frequency#19615DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Gossiping, or engaging in 说闲话, is a common social activity in Chinese culture, often seen as a way to bond with friends and family. It plays a significant role in maintaining social connections and community.

Memory Tip

Imagine a group of friends sitting around a table, casually chatting and laughing about everyday topics. The phrase 说 (shuō) means 'to speak', and 闲话 (xián huà) sounds like 'silly talk', which helps you remember that it refers to light, casual conversation.

Meanings of 说闲话

Exercise 1 of 1

Type the Meaning

What does 说闲话 mean?

说闲话

About 说闲话

说闲话Simplified
24Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 说闲话

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Podcast: 说闲话

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AI Study Notes for 说闲话

Quick Contrast

闲聊 (xián liáo) vs 说闲话 (shuō xián huà): use 说闲话 when emphasizing gossip or trivial talk about others, while 闲聊 focuses more on casual chatting without the gossip connotation.

Usage Notes

This phrase is typically used in informal settings, so avoid using it in formal speech or writing. Common collocations include '不喜欢说闲话' (bù xǐ huān shuō xián huà) meaning 'don't like to gossip'. Be careful with the tone; it can sound dismissive if used inappropriately.

HSK Study Tips

Although this phrase may not appear in the HSK vocabulary lists, it embodies common conversational language used in daily life. For HSK learners, focus on the individual words 说 and 闲, as they will aid in understanding a variety of phrases.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 说闲话 with serious discussions. For instance, saying '我在说闲话关于工作' (I am gossiping about work) is incorrect; instead, use '我在说闲话' to refer to casual topics.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 说闲话

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Component Characters

说shuōto say
HSK 19 strokes讠
View full entry
闲xiánto stay idle
HSK 57 strokes门
View full entry
话huàspoken words
HSK 18 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say to chat in Chinese

“to chat” in Chinese is说闲话

说闲话 (shuō xián huà) refers to talking about trivial matters or gossiping. This phrase is often used in informal contexts where people engage in light-hearted conversation that lacks serious content or purpose.

When to use 说闲话

This phrase is typically used in informal settings, so avoid using it in formal speech or writing. Common collocations include '不喜欢说闲话' (bù xǐ huān shuō xián huà) meaning 'don't like to gossip'. Be careful with the tone; it can sound dismissive if used inappropriately.

说闲话 or something close to it

闲聊 (xián liáo) vs 说闲话 (shuō xián huà): use 说闲话 when emphasizing gossip or trivial talk about others, while 闲聊 focuses more on casual chatting without the gossip connotation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 说闲话 with serious discussions. For instance, saying '我在说闲话关于工作' (I am gossiping about work) is incorrect; instead, use '我在说闲话' to refer to casual topics.

Write 说闲话

说
闲
话

Practice writing 说闲话 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 说闲话

No, it is an informal expression typically used among friends or in casual conversations.

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