说话 shuō huà
“to speak; to say; to talk”
verb, verb / nounHSK 1 · 2021 list level 1Traditional 說話
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
说话 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 197: 说话 shuōhuà — Level 1; official annotation 1 (动). PDF page 84
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 说话
说话 means "to speak" or "to talk," used when someone is using their voice to say things. It is a verb-object phrase (说 + 话) and takes no object of its own: say 说中文, not 说中文话. Because the two parts can be separated, aspect and quantity words go in between (说了很多话, 说不出话来); it often appears with 正在 or with 跟/和 for talking with someone.
例句Example sentences
- 他在说话，请安静。tā zài shuō huà, qǐng ān jìng.He is speaking, please be quiet.
- 我妈妈正在跟朋友说话。wǒ mā ma zhèng zài gēn péng you shuō huà.My mom is talking with a friend.
- 别说话，上课了。bié shuō huà, shàng kè le.Don't talk, class has started.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我说话中文。
✓我说中文。
说话 is an intransitive verb-object phrase and cannot take an object like 中文; use 说 + language instead.
易混词Easily confused
说话vs说
说 is a plain verb meaning "to say" and takes an object (说中文, 说再见); 说话 means "to speak/talk" and does not take an object.