Comparing "jieshi" and "shuoming"
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Both 解释 and 说明 mean to explain or clarify and sometimes can be used interchangeably. Both can be used in informal and formal settings. A key difference between these two words is 说明 can also be used to mean to prove.
| 解释 (jiěshì) | 说明 (shuōmíng) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | to explain, to clarify | to explain, to clarify, to prove |
| Part of Speech | verb | verb and noun |
| Formality | flexible | flexible |
Contents
To say to explain or to clarify both 解释 and 说明 can be used
Common Phrases
- 请～一下
To say to prove only 说明 can be used.
解释 is used in fixed patterns that cannot be substituted.
Fixed Patterns
- 解释清楚
- 解释明白
说明 is used in fixed patterns that cannot be substituted.
Fixed Patterns
- 说明情况
- 说明历史
- 说明书
Only 说明 can be used as a noun to mean “an explanation”.
Example sentences
- 你有没有什么说明？
