Phrases using "laishuo"

Chinese-grammar-wiki-dui.jpg

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 (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.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 been improving.
  • 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 ,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 an American born Chinese, not a Chinese.
  • 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 so.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books