English–Chinese

“strike up a conversation” in Chinese

Chinese

Pronunciation

Pinyindā shàn

Example

他在街上搭讪那位女孩。tā zài jiē shàng dā shàn nà wèi nǚ hái

He struck up a conversation with that girl on the street.

Illustration for 搭讪 (strike up a conversation)

How to say “strike up a conversation” in Chinese

“Strike up a conversation” in Chinese is 搭讪 (dā shàn).

A tentative verbal approach that tests whether a stranger will welcome further contact.

Full entry for 搭讪: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with 搭讪

他在酒吧试着向她搭讪。tā zài jiǔ bā shì zhe xiàng tā dā shàn

He tried to strike up a conversation with her at the bar.

Tips for using 搭讪

  • In everyday Chinese, this word can sound mildly judgmental when describing someone else's approach, suggesting that the person is being forward rather than simply friendly.

“strike up a conversation” in other languages