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商讨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
商讨shāngtǎoto discussHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #12104, Very Hard
商讨shāngtǎoto deliberateHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #12104, Very Hard
shāngtǎo(shang1tao3)shang tao T1
  1. 1to discuss
  2. 2to deliberate
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March 24, 2026

商讨(商討)shāngtǎo(shang1tao3)

商讨 (shāngtǎo) means to discuss or deliberate on a specific matter, often in a formal context. It conveys a sense of mutual consideration and negotiation, typically involving two or more parties reaching a consensus or decision.

Strokes16Frequency#12104DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, collective decision-making is highly valued, and 商讨 reflects this through its emphasis on group discussions and consensus-building, which is often seen in business and community settings.

Memory tip

Imagine two merchants (商) sitting at a table (讨) discussing the best way to sell their goods. The shape of the character 商 resembles a merchant negotiating, while 讨 hints at 'talking' or 'discussing', helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 商讨

shāngtǎo(shang1tao3)
1to discuss
2to deliberate
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About 商讨

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

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Podcast: 商讨

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AI study notes for 商讨

Quick Contrast

讨论 (tǎolùn) vs 商讨 (shāngtǎo): use 商讨 for more formal discussions involving negotiation or consensus.

Usage Notes

商讨 is often used in formal settings, such as business meetings or negotiations. Common collocations include '商讨计划' (discuss plans) or '商讨方案' (deliberate on proposals). Be careful with the tones, as mispronouncing them may lead to confusion with unrelated words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 商讨 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners at HSK 4 and above as it involves discussions in professional or academic contexts. Focus on expanding vocabulary related to negotiation and collaboration.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 商讨 with 讨论 (tǎolùn), using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '我们要商讨这个问题' (We need to discuss this issue) is correct, while using 讨论 here can imply a less formal tone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 商讨

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Component characters

商Shāngthe Shang dynasty, 16th to 11th century BC
HSK 711 strokes口
View full entry
讨tǎoto invite
HSK 75 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say to discuss in Chinese

“to discuss” in Chinese is商讨shāngtǎo

商讨 (shāngtǎo) means to discuss or deliberate on a specific matter, often in a formal context. It conveys a sense of mutual consideration and negotiation, typically involving two or more parties reaching a consensus or decision.

When to use 商讨

商讨 is often used in formal settings, such as business meetings or negotiations. Common collocations include '商讨计划' (discuss plans) or '商讨方案' (deliberate on proposals). Be careful with the tones, as mispronouncing them may lead to confusion with unrelated words.

商讨 or something close to it

讨论 (tǎolùn) vs 商讨 (shāngtǎo): use 商讨 for more formal discussions involving negotiation or consensus.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 商讨 with 讨论 (tǎolùn), using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '我们要商讨这个问题' (We need to discuss this issue) is correct, while using 讨论 here can imply a less formal tone.

Write 商讨

商
讨

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Cultural Notes for 商讨

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While both Chinese and Western cultures value discussions, Chinese culture often emphasizes group consensus over individual opinions, leading to a more collaborative approach in 商讨 compared to more direct debate styles in the West.

Frequently asked questions about 商讨

商讨 suggests a more formal and collaborative discussion aimed at reaching an agreement, while 讨论 is more general and can refer to any kind of discussion or debate.

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