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说谎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
说谎shuōhuǎngto lieHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #1367, Very Hard
说谎shuōhuǎngto tell an untruthHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #1367, Very Hard
shuōhuǎng(shuo1huang3)shuo huang T1
  1. 1to lie
  2. 2to tell an untruth
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March 24, 2026

说谎(說謊)shuōhuǎng(shuo1huang3)

说谎 (shuō huǎng) means 'to lie' or 'to tell an untruth.' It is commonly used in various contexts, from casual conversations to more serious discussions about honesty and trust. The term highlights the act of deliberately providing false information, which is often viewed negatively in both personal and professional settings.

Strokes20Frequency#1367DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, honesty is highly valued, and 说谎 is often associated with a loss of face, not just for the liar but also for the person deceived. This can have significant social repercussions, emphasizing the importance of integrity in relationships.

Memory tip

Think of 说 (shuō) as 'speaking' and 谎 (huǎng) as 'falsehood.' Imagine a person speaking a tall tale or a 'huge lie' that stretches the truth. Visualize a character with a big mouth (说) that is spewing out untruths (谎). This connection helps recall both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 说谎

shuōhuǎng(shuo1huang3)
1to lie
2to tell an untruth
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About 说谎

说谎Simplified
說謊Traditional
20Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 说谎

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AI study notes for 说谎

Quick Contrast

撒谎 (sā huǎng) - 'to lie' is often used interchangeably with 说谎, but 说谎 emphasizes the act of lying in a more formal context.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 说谎 with similar phrases like 说实话 (shuō shí huà), which means 'to speak the truth.' 说谎 is considered informal and may carry a negative connotation, so use it cautiously in formal contexts. Additionally, it's often used with words like '不' (bù) to express 'not lying.'

HSK Study Tips

While 说谎 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, understanding it helps students with vocabulary related to honesty and deception, which frequently appear in conversational contexts. Focus on the radicals: 说 (to speak) and 谎 (false) as they relate to communication.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 说谎 with 说谎话, which is redundant since 说谎 already means 'to lie.' It's better to simply use 说谎 when referring to the act of lying.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 说谎

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Component characters

说shuōto say
HSK 19 strokes讠
View full entry
谎huǎnglies
11 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say to lie in Chinese

“to lie” in Chinese is说谎shuōhuǎng

说谎 (shuō huǎng) means 'to lie' or 'to tell an untruth.' It is commonly used in various contexts, from casual conversations to more serious discussions about honesty and trust. The term highlights the act of deliberately providing false information, which is often viewed negatively in both personal and professional settings.

When to use 说谎

Be careful not to confuse 说谎 with similar phrases like 说实话 (shuō shí huà), which means 'to speak the truth.' 说谎 is considered informal and may carry a negative connotation, so use it cautiously in formal contexts. Additionally, it's often used with words like '不' (bù) to express 'not lying.'

说谎 or something close to it

撒谎 (sā huǎng) - 'to lie' is often used interchangeably with 说谎, but 说谎 emphasizes the act of lying in a more formal context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 说谎 with 说谎话, which is redundant since 说谎 already means 'to lie.' It's better to simply use 说谎 when referring to the act of lying.

Write 说谎

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谎

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Frequently asked questions about 说谎

Generally, 说谎 is more suited for informal conversations. In formal contexts, consider using terms like '撒谎' (sā huǎng) or '不诚实' (bù chéngshí) which also refer to dishonesty.

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