Comparing "jushuo" and "tingshuo"

据说 and 听说 both are verbs used in informal and formal situations that mean it is said that, allegedly, they say, or to hear of. Both can be used without a specific person or pronoun to start a sentence often interchangeably. The key difference between these words is that 听说 can also be preceded by a specific person or pronoun to start a sentence.











B2HSK5ASV4567
据说 (jùshuō) 听说 (tīngshuō)
Meaning it is said that, allegedly, they say, or to hear of it is said that, allegedly, they say, or to hear of
Part of Speech verb verb (mostly)
Formality flexible flexible


To say to it is said that, allegedly, they say, or to hear both 据说 and 听说 can be used to start sentences

Example sentences

In the following examples both 据说 and 听说 can be used.

  • ~他搬家了
  • ~你会汉语

To say to it is said that, allegedly, they say, or to hear both 据说 and 听说 can be used as separable verbs to start sentences

Separable verbs are two characters verbs that can be opened up and other stuff can be put inside.

Example sentences

  • 听/据新闻说
  • 听/据天气预报说

Only 听说 can also be preceded by a specific person or pronoun to start a sentence.

Patterns

Someone + 听说

Only 听说 can be used in paired with “没有“, ”了“, and “过”

Patterns

Someone + 没有听说

Someone + 听说过

Someone + 听说了