说明 shuō míng
“to explain; to illustrate; to indicate”
verb, verb / noun, nounHSK 4 · 2021 list level 2Traditional 說明Measure word 个
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
说明 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 1700: 说明 shuōmíng — Level 4; official annotation 4 (动、名). PDF page 122
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 说明
说明 means to explain or to make something clear, and it is also used for facts or signs that "show" something. It is a fairly formal verb, common in writing and in official or classroom situations, and it often appears as 说明 + 情况/问题/原因 or 说明一下. A clause can also follow it, as in 这说明…… (this shows that…).
例句Example sentences
- 请你说明一下这个问题。qǐng nǐ shuō míng yí xià zhè ge wèn tí.Please explain this problem.
- 他的表情说明他很不高兴。tā de biǎo qíng shuō míng tā hěn bù gāo xìng.His expression shows that he is very unhappy.
- 老师向大家说明了明天的安排。lǎo shī xiàng dà jiā shuō míng le míng tiān de ān pái.The teacher explained tomorrow's schedule to everyone.