Phrases using "laishuo"

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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, which sets the speaker's attitude or point of view before launching into the full comment.

Common Phrases

  • 一般 来说 (Generally speaking)
  • 总的 来说 (In general)
  • 具体 来说 (To be specific)
  • 简单 来说 (Briefly speaking)
  • 相对 来说 (Relatively)
  • 严格 来说 (Strictly speaking; Technically)

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 的 实习生 都 是 外国 人 。Yībān lái shuō, wǒmen de shíxí shēng dōu shì wàiguó rén.Generally speaking, our inters are all foreigners.
  • 总的 来说 , 这 次 活动 很 成功 。Zǒng de lái shuō, zhè cì huódòng hěn chénggōng.This event was a success in general.
  • 总的 来说 ,这个 情况 在 改善 。Zǒng de lái shuō, zhège qíngkuàng zài gǎishàn.Generally speaking, this situation has improved.
  • 今天 的 考试 相对 来说 有点 难 。Jīntiān de kǎoshì xiāngduì lái shuō yǒudiǎn nán.Relatively, today's test is a little difficult.
  • 相对 来说,我 更 支持 Hillary 。Xiāngduì lái shuō, wǒ gèng zhīchí Hillary.Relatively, I support Hillary more.
  • 严格 来说 ,我们 的 员工 不 能 穿 牛仔裤 上班 。Yángé lái shuō, wǒmen de yuángōng bù néng chuān niúzǎikù shàngbān.Strictly speaking, our employees can't wear jeans to work.
  • 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 an American born Chinese, not a Chinese.
  • 少 开车 有 很 多 好处 ,具体 来说 , 它 可以 保护 环境,改善 交通, 也 可以 让 我们 多 运动 。 Shǎo kāichē yǒu hěn duō hǎochù, jùtǐ lái shuō, tā kěyǐ bǎohù huánjìng, gǎishàn jiāotōng, yě kěyǐ ràng wǒmen duō yùndòng.We benefit a lot from driving less often. Specifically, it can protect the environment, improve the traffic, and also make us exercise more.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books