Chinese word

解释

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiě shì

Meaning

  • verbexplain

Example

你能把这个问题解释清楚吗？nǐ néng bǎ zhè ge wèn tí jiě shì qīng chǔ ma

Can you explain this problem clearly?

Illustration for 解释 (explain)

More examples

他的沉默常被解释为同意。tā de chén mò cháng bèi jiě shì wèi tóng yì

His silence is often interpreted as agreement.

Core concept

A clear path from a confusing whole to the reasons and connections inside it.

Common phrases

  • 向别人解释xiàng bié rén jiě shì

    explain to others

  • 需要解释xū yào jiě shì

    need an explanation

Similar words

说明shuō míng: Clearly state facts, circumstances, or instructions so their content or method is understood.
讲解jiáng jiě: Explain the details of a subject so its meaning or use becomes easy to understand.

Definition in Chinese

把复杂信息拆开并用语言交代各部分的关系与理由，使听者明白整体意思。bǎ fù zá xìn xī chāi kāi bìng yòng yǔ yán jiāo dài gè bù fèn de guān xì yǔ lǐ yóu shǐ tīng zhě míng bái zhéng tǐ yì si

Word origin

解释 (jiěshì, "explain") combines 解 (jiě, "untie") with 释 (shì, "clarify"), giving the image of untangling difficult information until its meaning is clear.

Usage tips

  • In English, "justify" often suggests proving that an action was right, but 解释 (jiěshì, "explain") can also give a neutral account of facts, causes, or meaning.

Other meanings

  • interpretverb
  • explanationnoun
  • justifyverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word