Chinese Conversation · Level 35
90 words
Chinese word
小说
Pronunciation
Pinyinxiǎo shuō
Meaning
- nounnovel
Example
我在读一本小说。wǒ zài dú yì běn xiǎo shuō
I am reading a novel.
More examples
这本小说很有意思。zhè běn xiǎo shuō hěn yǒu yì si
This novel is very interesting.
Core concept
A written story that builds a fictional world through its characters and unfolding events.
Common phrases
读小说dú xiǎo shuō
read a novel
看小说kàn xiǎo shuō
read a novel
一本小说yì běn xiǎo shuō
a novel
写小说xiě xiǎo shuō
write a novel
Similar words
故事gù shì: A short narrative about events that may be true, traditional, or invented.
书shū: A bound or printed work containing writing for reading.
Definition in Chinese
指以叙事为主的文学作品，通常通过连贯的情节和人物刻画来讲述一个故事，现代汉语中泛指各种小说体裁。zhǐ yǐ xù shì wéi zhǔ de wén xué zuò pǐn tōng cháng tōng guò lián guàn de qíng jié hé rén wù kè huà lái jiǎng shù yí gè gù shì xiàn dài hàn yǔ zhōng fàn zhǐ gè zhǒng xiǎo shuō tǐ cái
Word origin
小说 (xiǎoshuō, "novel") developed from an older term for small or informal pieces of talk into the name for extended fictional writing.
Usage tips
- The same word applies to a novel read on paper or on a screen because it names the narrative work, not the material that carries it.
Other meanings
- storynoun
- fictionnoun
Related words
- 小说家xiǎo shuō jiānovelistnoun
- 长篇小说cháng piān xiǎo shuōfull-length novelnoun
- 短篇小说duǎn piān xiǎo shuōshort storynoun