Phrases using "laishuo"

Although the different phrases involving 来说 (láishuō) may seem pretty different, they do share a common structure: a word or short phrase at the beginning of a sentence, followed by 来说, sets the speaker's attitude or point of view before launching into the full comment.

Colloquial Saying

In English we say "to someone or for someone." In Chinese, the pattern is:

Structure

对 + Person + 来说 ，⋯⋯

The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Note that subject can be also placed before 对.

Examples

• 学好 中文 对 外国人 来说 不 容易 。Xuéhǎo Zhōngwén duì wàiguórén lái shuō bù róngyì.For foreigners, it is not easy to learn Chinese well.
• 对 孩子 来说 ，这个 问题 太 复杂 了 。Duì háizi lái shuō, zhège wèntí tài fùzá le.This question is too complicated for kids.
• 对 你 来说 ，家庭 重要 还是 工作 重要 ？Duì nǐ lái shuō, jiātíng zhòngyào háishì gōngzuò zhòngyào?Is family or work more important to you?

Common Phrases

Structure

In this case, the structure is simply:

Word + 来说

• 一般 来说 (yībān lái shuō) generally speaking

• 总的 来说 (zǒngde lái shuō) in general

• 相对 来说 (xiāngduì lái shuō) relatively

• 严格 来说 (yángé lái shuō) strictly speaking; technically

• 具体 来说 (jùtǐ lái shuō) specifically

Examples

• 一般 来说 ，私立 学校 都 比较 贵 。Yībān lái shuō, sīlì xuéxiào dōu bǐjiào guì.Generally speaking, private schools are more expensive.
• 一般 来说 ，我们 只 要 外国 实习生 。Yībān lái shuō, wǒmen zhǐ yào wàiguó shíxíshēng.Generally speaking, we only want foreign interns.
• 一般 来说 ，大 城市 有 更 多 工作 机会 。Yībān lái shuō, dà chéngshì yǒu gèng duō gōngzuò jīhuì.Generally speaking, there are more job opportunities in big cities.
• 总的 来说 ，这 次 活动 很 成功 。Zǒng de lái shuō, zhè cì huódòng hěn chénggōng.In general, this event was a success.
• 总的 来说 ，这个 情况 在 改善 。Zǒng de lái shuō, zhège qíngkuàng zài gǎishàn.Generally speaking, this situation has been improving.
• 今天 的 考试 相对 来说 有点 难 。Jīntiān de kǎoshì xiāngduì lái shuō yǒudiǎn nán.Today's test, relatively, is a little difficult.
• 相对 来说 ，我 更 支持 我的 老板 。Xiāngduì lái shuō, wǒ gèng zhīchí wǒde lǎobǎn.Relatively, I support my boss more.
• 严格 来说 ，他 是 我 主管 ，不是 我 老板 。Yángé lái shuō, tā shì wǒ zhǔguǎn, bù shì wǒ lǎobǎn.Strictly speaking, he's my director, not my boss.
• 严格 来说 ，他 是 华裔 ，不 是 中国人 。Yángé lái shuō, tā shì huáyì, bù shì Zhōngguó rén.Technically, he is Asian American, not a Chinese native.
• 具体 来说 ，这样 做 有 三 个 好处 。Jùtǐ lái shuō, zhèyàng zuò yǒu sān gè hǎochù.To be specific, there are three benefits in doing it this way.