jiǎng: 讲 - To Speak, To Say, To Explain, To Negotiate

• Keywords: 讲, jiǎng, Chinese verb for speak, how to say explain in Chinese, tell a story in Chinese, negotiate in Chinese, bargain in Chinese, 讲价, 讲故事, 讲话, 讲究, learn Chinese verb.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 讲 (jiǎng), a word that goes far beyond just “to speak.” This page breaks down how to use 讲 to tell a story (讲故事), explain a concept, give a lecture (讲话), and even negotiate a price (讲价). Discover its cultural significance and avoid common mistakes to sound more like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiǎng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: To speak, say, explain, tell, or negotiate.
• In a Nutshell: While a beginner might learn an early synonym like 说 (shuō) for “to say,” 讲 (jiǎng) implies a more structured or detailed form of speech. Think of it as “to expound,” “to narrate,” or “to lecture on.” If you're telling a story, explaining a problem, or bargaining at a market, 讲 (jiǎng) is the verb you need. It elevates the simple act of speaking to a more purposeful act of communication.

• 讲 (jiǎng): This is a phono-semantic compound character, which means it has one part for meaning and one part for sound.
  • Radical 讠(yán): This is the “speech” radical, derived from the character 言 (yán). Whenever you see this on the left side of a character, it almost always relates to words, language, or speaking.
  • Phonetic Component 冓 (gòu): This part provides the sound for 讲 (jiǎng). On its own, 冓 depicts interlocking structures, which beautifully complements the meaning radical.
• Combined Meaning: You can think of 讲 as “structured (冓) speech (讠).” This is why it's used for coherent, planned communication like stories, lectures, and explanations, rather than just casual utterances.

• The Art of Elucidation: In Chinese culture, there is a high value placed on clear teaching and storytelling. 讲 (jiǎng) is the verb at the heart of this. The classic image is of a 老师 (lǎoshī - teacher) 讲课 (jiǎngkè - giving a lecture) or a grandparent 讲故事 (jiǎng gùshi - telling a story). The word implies a transfer of knowledge, wisdom, or narrative from one person to another, which is a cornerstone of a society that values heritage and education.
• 讲 vs. “To Talk”: In English, “to talk” can be very casual. In Chinese, while you can 谈 (tán) or 聊天 (liáotiān) casually, 讲 often carries more weight. It's less about a two-way chat and more about a one-way explanation or narration.
• 讲究 (jiǎngjiu) - The Value of “Being Particular”: The word 讲究 (jiǎngjiu), which literally means “to speak of seeking,” is a deeply cultural concept. It means “to be particular about,” “to be meticulous,” or “to value refinement.” For example, someone can be 讲究 about the tea they drink, the clothes they wear, or the way they arrange their home. This reflects a cultural appreciation for detail, quality, and aesthetics—things that are “worth speaking about” and paying attention to.

讲 (jiǎng) is an incredibly versatile and common verb in daily life.

• Narrating and Lecturing: This is its most classic use.
  • `讲故事 (jiǎng gùshi)` - to tell a story
  • `讲笑话 (jiǎng xiàohuà)` - to tell a joke
  • `讲课 (jiǎng kè)` - to give a lesson/lecture
  • `讲话 (jiǎng huà)` - to give a speech (more formal than 说话 shuōhuà)
• Explaining and Clarifying: This is extremely common in everyday requests.
  • `你给我讲一下。(Nǐ gěi wǒ jiǎng yīxià.)` - “Explain it to me for a moment.” This is a key phrase for any learner.
• Negotiating and Bargaining: This is a must-know for anyone shopping at a Chinese market.
  • `讲价 (jiǎng jià)` - to bargain the price. It's a set phrase.
  • `这个价格可以讲吗？ (Zhège jiàgé kěyǐ jiǎng ma?)` - “Can this price be negotiated?”
• Stressing a Point or Condition: 讲 can also mean to emphasize or be particular about an abstract concept.
  • `我们公司很讲效率。(Wǒmen gōngsī hěn jiǎng xiàolǜ.)` - “Our company really stresses efficiency.”
  • `做人要讲信用。(Zuòrén yào jiǎng xìnyòng.)` - “When conducting yourself, you must value credibility.”

• Example 1:
  • 老师正在给学生们讲一个历史故事。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī zhèngzài gěi xuéshēngmen jiǎng yīgè lìshǐ gùshi.
  • English: The teacher is telling the students a history story.
  • Analysis: This is a classic use of 讲 for narration. It's more vivid and appropriate than 说 (shuō) here.
• Example 2:
  • 在中国的很多市场，你都可以讲价。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó de hěnduō shìchǎng, nǐ dōu kěyǐ jiǎng jià.
  • English: In many markets in China, you can bargain.
  • Analysis: Highlights the set phrase 讲价 (jiǎngjià). This is a highly practical and non-negotiable (pun intended) vocabulary item.
• Example 3:
  • 这个问题有点复杂，你能不能给我讲清楚？
  • Pinyin: Zhège wèntí yǒudiǎn fùzá, nǐ néng bùnéng gěi wǒ jiǎng qīngchu?
  • English: This problem is a bit complicated, can you explain it to me clearly?
  • Analysis: 讲清楚 (jiǎng qīngchu) means “to explain clearly.” This shows 讲 being used to request a detailed explanation.
• Example 4:
  • 你这个人怎么不讲道理啊？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhège rén zěnme bù jiǎng dàolǐ a?
  • English: How can you be so unreasonable?
  • Analysis: A very common, colloquial phrase. 讲道理 (jiǎng dàolǐ) literally means “to speak reason/logic.” Not doing so means you're being unreasonable.
• Example 5:
  • 明天开会，老板要讲话。
  • Pinyin: Míngtiān kāihuì, lǎobǎn yào jiǎnghuà.
  • English: The boss is going to give a speech at the meeting tomorrow.
  • Analysis: 讲话 (jiǎnghuà) refers to a formal speech or address, distinct from the casual act of 说话 (shuōhuà), “to talk.”
• Example 6:
  • 他做事很认真，凡事都讲原则。
  • Pinyin: Tā zuòshì hěn rènzhēn, fánshì dōu jiǎng yuánzé.
  • English: He is very serious in his work and adheres to principles in everything he does.
  • Analysis: This shows the abstract meaning of 讲 as “to stress” or “to be particular about.” Here, he stresses principles.
• Example 7:
  • 别哭了，我给你讲个笑话吧。
  • Pinyin: Bié kū le, wǒ gěi nǐ jiǎng ge xiàohuà ba.
  • English: Don't cry, let me tell you a joke.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the fixed phrase 讲笑话 (jiǎng xiàohuà), to tell a joke.
• Example 8:
  • 我们先讲好条件，再开始合作。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xiān jiǎng hǎo tiáojiàn, zài kāishǐ hézuò.
  • English: Let's negotiate the terms first, then we can start cooperating.
  • Analysis: Here, 讲好 (jiǎng hǎo) means to come to an agreement through discussion or negotiation. It implies reaching a satisfactory conclusion.
• Example 9:
  • 他对吃非常讲究，只去高档餐厅。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì chī fēicháng jiǎngjiu, zhǐ qù gāodàng cāntīng.
  • English: He is very particular about food and only goes to high-end restaurants.
  • Analysis: Uses the related compound 讲究 (jiǎngjiu) to show the cultural concept of being meticulous or refined about something.
• Example 10:
  • 我听不懂，请你用简单的中文再讲一遍。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ tīng bù dǒng, qǐng nǐ yòng jiǎndān de Zhōngwén zài jiǎng yībiàn.
  • English: I don't understand, please explain it again in simple Chinese.
  • Analysis: A very useful sentence for a learner. 讲一遍 (jiǎng yībiàn) means “to explain it one more time.”

• 讲 (jiǎng) vs. 说 (shuō): This is the most common point of confusion.
  • 说 (shuō): The default, general verb for “to say” or “to speak.” Use it for quoting someone, making a simple statement, or for the general act of talking.
    • Correct: `他说他累了。(Tā shuō tā lèi le.)` - He said he was tired.
    • Awkward: `他讲他累了。` (This sounds overly formal, as if he gave a lecture about being tired).
  • 讲 (jiǎng): Use for structured, one-way communication that involves detail, like a story, a lecture, an explanation, or a joke.
    • Correct: `他给我讲了一个故事。(Tā gěi wǒ jiǎng le yí ge gùshi.)` - He told me a story.
• 讲 (jiǎng) vs. 告诉 (gàosu):
  • 告诉 (gàosu): “To tell” someone a piece of information. The focus is on the transmission of a fact. It almost always takes an indirect object (telling *someone*).
    • `他告诉我他的名字。(Tā gàosu wǒ tā de míngzi.)` - He told me his name.
  • 讲 (jiǎng): “To tell” a narrative. The focus is on the story or explanation itself.
    • `他给我讲了他的故事。(Tā gěi wǒ jiǎng le tā de gùshi.)` - He told me his life story.
• Incorrect Collocations: A learner might incorrectly create their own phrases.
  • Incorrect: `我想说价。 (Wǒ xiǎng shuō jià.)`
  • Correct: `我想讲价。 (Wǒ xiǎng jiǎngjià.)` - Bargaining is always 讲价.

• 说话 (shuōhuà) - To speak, to talk. Refers to the general act of producing speech. 讲 is a specific, structured type of 说话.
• 告诉 (gàosu) - To tell, to inform. Focuses on conveying a specific piece of information to someone.
• 谈 (tán) - To talk over, to discuss, to chat. Implies a two-way conversation or negotiation.
• 讲座 (jiǎngzuò) - A lecture, a seminar. A noun form directly related to 讲, referring to a formal talk.
• 演讲 (yǎnjiǎng) - A speech, a public address. A very formal type of prepared talk.
• 讲价 (jiǎngjià) - To bargain, to haggle. A set phrase and an essential skill for using 讲.
• 讲究 (jiǎngjiu) - To be particular about, meticulous. An adjective or verb showing a culturally important extension of 讲.
• 讲解 (jiǎngjiě) - To explain, to interpret. A more formal verb for explaining something in detail, often used in educational or museum contexts.