HSK · Level 108
45 words
Chinese word
说起来
Pronunciation
Pinyinshuō qǐ lái
Meaning
- conjunctionby the way
Example
说起来，你喜欢吃辣吗？shuō qǐ lái nǐ xǐ huān chī là ma
By the way, do you like spicy food?
More examples
说起来，他上次来忘了带钥匙。shuō qǐ lái tā shàng cì lái wàng le dài yào shi
By the way, he forgot to bring his keys the last time he came.
Core concept
Speech briefly turns toward an associated idea without leaving the main conversational thread.
Common phrases
说起来倒是shuō qǐ lái dào shì
come to think of it indeed
说起来真巧shuō qǐ lái zhēn qiǎo
come to think of it what a coincidence
Similar words
说起shuō qǐ: Introduces a brief personal experience or opinion linked to something just mentioned.
话说huà shuō: Connects the conversation to another topic or begins a related side remark.
对了duì le: Suddenly introduces something just remembered during the conversation.
顺便说一句shùn biàn shuō yí jù: Adds one short extra remark alongside the main topic.
Definition in Chinese
表示说到某事时突然想起与之相关的事情、感想或补充，多用于口语，常作为句首或插入语引出关联内容。biǎo shì shuō dào mǒu shì shí tū rán xiáng qǐ yǔ zhī xiāng guān de shì qíng gán xiǎng huò bǔ chōng duō yòng yú kóu yǔ cháng zuò wéi jù shǒu huò chā rù yǔ yǐn chū guān lián nèi róng
Word origin
说起来 (shuōqǐlái, "speaking of it") combines 说 (shuō, "speak") with 起来 (qǐlái, "begin"), whose start meaning frames the following remark as something brought up during discussion.
Usage tips
- The expression is especially natural in spoken conversation, while a more explicit linking phrase often fits better in formal writing.