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March 24, 2026
讲(講)jiǎng(jiang3)
The character 讲 (jiǎng) primarily means 'to speak' or 'to explain.' It is commonly used in contexts such as giving a lecture, negotiating terms, or emphasizing a point. This character conveys both verbal communication and the act of discussing or clarifying ideas.
Strokes6Radical讠Frequency#490DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
讲 is often used in educational contexts, such as in universities where professors 讲课 (give lectures). This highlights the high value placed on education and verbal communication in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing on a stage giving a speech (讲), with a large 'J' for 'jam-packed' knowledge to share. The radical '言' (speech) represents talking, while the '讲' itself can remind you of 'jargon,' emphasizing the importance of clear communication.
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AI Study Notes for 讲
Quick Contrast
说 (shuō) vs. 讲 (jiǎng): Use 讲 when emphasizing explanation or discussion; use 说 for general speaking or stating.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone; 讲 (jiǎng) is pronounced with a falling tone, which is crucial for meaning. Common collocations include 讲课 (jiǎngkè - to give a class) and 讲话 (jiǎnghuà - to speak). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 讲 connects well with other verbs related to communication, such as 说 (shuō - to say) and 聊 (liáo - to chat). Focus on using it in sentences where you describe actions related to speaking or explaining.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 讲 with 说, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我讲中文' (Wǒ jiǎng zhōngwén) instead of '我说中文' (Wǒ shuō zhōngwén) when simply stating 'I speak Chinese' is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 讲
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How Well Do You Know 讲?
Example
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Knowing 讲 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
讲 = 讠 + 井. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 讲
IDS Structure⿰讠井
讲Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
井Jing3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 讲?
How to say to speak in Chinese
“to speak” in Chinese is讲jiǎng
The character 讲 (jiǎng) primarily means 'to speak' or 'to explain.' It is commonly used in contexts such as giving a lecture, negotiating terms, or emphasizing a point. This character conveys both verbal communication and the act of discussing or clarifying ideas.
When to use 讲
Be careful with the tone; 讲 (jiǎng) is pronounced with a falling tone, which is crucial for meaning. Common collocations include 讲课 (jiǎngkè - to give a class) and 讲话 (jiǎnghuà - to speak). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.
讲 or something close to it
说 (shuō) vs. 讲 (jiǎng): Use 讲 when emphasizing explanation or discussion; use 说 for general speaking or stating.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 讲 with 说, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我讲中文' (Wǒ jiǎng zhōngwén) instead of '我说中文' (Wǒ shuō zhōngwén) when simply stating 'I speak Chinese' is incorrect.
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讲
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Grammar Patterns of 讲
讲 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
This was an uncharitable assessment of the reasons for the failure.
7
这篇课文把相当复杂的主题讲述得深入浅出、通俗易懂。
zhè piān kè wén bǎ xiāng dāng fù zá de zhǔ tí jiǎng shù dé shēn rù qiǎn chū、 、 tōng sú yì。
The text is approachable, coping well with quite complicated subjects.
8
不知为什么他讲这些故事时一点都不害怕。
bù zhī wéi shí mó tā jiǎng zhè xiē gù shì shí yī diǎn dū bù hài pà。
Somehow he tells these stories without a note of horror.
9
他继续讲笑话，自己笑得前仰后合。
tā jì xù jiǎng xiào huà， ， zì jǐ xiào dé qián yǎng hòu。
He carried on telling a joke, laughing his head off.
10
他喝了杯咖啡，回来后开始认真听讲。
tā hē le bēi kā fēi， ， huí lái hòu kāi shǐ rèn zhēn tīng。
He got his coffee, came back and settled down to listen.
11
他喜欢在演讲比赛中讲他的旅行经历。
Tā xǐhuān zài yǎnjiǎng bǐsài zhōng jiǎng tā de lǚxíng jīnglì.
He likes to speak about his travel experiences in speech competitions.
vto explain3
12
老师在课堂上讲了新的语法规则。
Lǎoshī zài kètáng shàng jiǎng le xīn de yǔfǎ guīzé.
The teacher explained the new grammar rules in class.
13
请你给我讲一下这个词的意思。
Qǐng nǐ gěi wǒ jiǎng yīxià zhège cí de yìsi.
Please explain the meaning of this word to me.
14
他用简单的语言讲明了这个问题。
Tā yòng jiǎndān de yǔyán jiǎngmíng le zhège wèntí.
He explained the problem clearly using simple language.
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Cultural Notes for 讲
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, storytelling and speeches have a long tradition. The art of '讲' often involves not just the words spoken, but also the style and delivery, highlighting the importance of effective communication in social interactions.
Word Family of 讲
Words Containing This Character20
讲jiǎngto speak講
讲话jiǎnghuàa speech講話
演讲yǎnjiǎnglecture演講
来讲as to來講
讲述jiǎngshùto talk about講述
讲究jiǎngjiutastefully chosen講究
讲座jiǎngzuòa course of lectures講座
讲解jiǎngjiěto explain講解
对讲机intercom對講機
讲课jiǎngkèteach講課
讲台platform講臺
宣讲to preach宣講
讲师instructor講師
讲授to lecture講授
讲求to stress講求
讲理to argue講理
讲演to lecture講演
听讲tīngjiǎngto attend a lecture聽講
主讲to give a lecture主講
讲坛a platform (to speak)講壇
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 讲
What does 讲话 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 讲
讲 (jiǎng) is used in both formal and informal contexts. In casual conversations, it can refer to telling stories or sharing opinions, while in formal settings, it can pertain to giving lectures or presentations. Understanding the context is key to using it appropriately.
Some common phrases include '讲道理' (jiǎng dàolǐ), meaning 'to reason' or 'explain the logic,' and '讲究' (jiǎngjiū), which means 'to be particular about' or 'to pay attention to.' These phrases showcase the flexibility of the character 讲 in different contexts.
讲 (jiǎng) means 'to speak' or 'to explain' in Chinese. It can also mean 'to negotiate' or 'to emphasize.' The character is commonly used in everyday conversation and is essential for expressing ideas clearly.
You can use 讲 (jiǎng) in sentences like '我想讲一个故事' (Wǒ xiǎng jiǎng yī gè gùshì), which means 'I want to tell a story.' Another example is '他讲得很好' (Tā jiǎng de hěn hǎo), meaning 'He speaks very well.' It's versatile and can be adapted to various contexts.
You can say 讲故事 (jiǎng gùshì - to tell a story) or 讲道理 (jiǎng dàolǐ - to explain reasoning).
讲 implies a more formal or structured way of speaking, like giving a lecture, while 说 is more casual and can mean simply 'to say'.
Yes, but it's more common in formal settings; in casual speech, you might prefer 说.
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