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谈到 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
谈到tándàoto refer toHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #26029, Very Hard
谈到tándàoto speak aboutHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #26029, Very Hard
谈到tándàoto talk aboutHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #26029, Very Hard
tándào(tan2dao4)tan dao T2
  1. 1to refer to
  2. 2to speak about
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March 24, 2026

谈到(談到)tándào(tan2dao4)

谈到 (tán dào) means 'to refer to' or 'to talk about.' It is commonly used in both spoken and written contexts when introducing a topic or mentioning something relevant in conversation. The phrase can imply a transition to a new subject or provide additional information about a previously discussed topic.

Strokes18Frequency#26029DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, talking about specific topics can be sensitive. For instance, when discussing personal matters or politics, the phrase 谈到 should be used cautiously to avoid discomfort or offense.

Memory tip

Imagine a person at a dinner table (谈) who suddenly points to a dessert (到) and says, 'Let’s talk about that cake!' The character 谈 is made of the speech radical (言) and the component '谈' suggests conversation, while 到 indicates direction—in this case, directing attention to a topic.

Meanings of 谈到

tándào(tan2dao4)
1to refer to
2to speak about
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About 谈到

谈到Simplified
談到Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 谈到

Quick Contrast

提到 (tí dào) — use 谈到 when emphasizing a discussion or conversation about a topic, while 提到 is more about simply mentioning it without the conversational nuance.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 谈到 with similar phrases like 谈论 (tán lùn), which means 'to discuss' more formally. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure the tone matches the setting you are in. Common collocations include 谈到某事 (tán dào mǒu shì), meaning 'to talk about something.'

HSK Study Tips

While 谈到 is not officially listed in HSK levels, it connects well with HSK 3 and 4 vocabulary surrounding discussions and topics. Students should focus on recognizing it in conversation and practice using it to introduce or shift topics in dialogues.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 谈到 with 讨论 (tǎo lùn), which means 'to discuss' rather than simply 'to talk about.' A common mistake would be to say '我想讨论这个' when they mean '我想谈到这个' (I want to talk about this).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 谈到

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Component characters

谈tánto speak
HSK 410 strokes讠
View full entry
到dàoto (a place)
HSK 18 strokes刂
View full entry

How to say to refer to in Chinese

“to refer to” in Chinese is谈到tándào

谈到 (tán dào) means 'to refer to' or 'to talk about.' It is commonly used in both spoken and written contexts when introducing a topic or mentioning something relevant in conversation. The phrase can imply a transition to a new subject or provide additional information about a previously discussed topic.

When to use 谈到

Be careful not to confuse 谈到 with similar phrases like 谈论 (tán lùn), which means 'to discuss' more formally. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure the tone matches the setting you are in. Common collocations include 谈到某事 (tán dào mǒu shì), meaning 'to talk about something.'

谈到 or something close to it

提到 (tí dào) — use 谈到 when emphasizing a discussion or conversation about a topic, while 提到 is more about simply mentioning it without the conversational nuance.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 谈到 with 讨论 (tǎo lùn), which means 'to discuss' rather than simply 'to talk about.' A common mistake would be to say '我想讨论这个' when they mean '我想谈到这个' (I want to talk about this).

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谈
到

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Frequently asked questions about 谈到

Yes, 谈到 can be used in both formal and informal writing, but ensure the context is appropriate.

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