HSK · Level 6
133 words
Chinese word
谈
Pronunciation
Pinyintán
Meaning
- verbtalk
Example
我们可以谈一下吗？wǒ men ké yǐ tán yí xià ma
Can we talk for a moment?
More examples
大家在会议上谈意见。dà jiā zài huì yì shàng tán yì jiàn
Everyone is expressing their opinions at the meeting.
Core concept
Bringing ideas into the open so people can connect, compare views, or settle a matter together.
Common phrases
谈意见tán yì jiàn
express an opinion
谈问题tán wèn tí
discuss an issue
Similar words
说shuō: Communicate what is on the mind or pass on information by speaking.
讲jiǎng: Present information or an account step by step so others can understand it.
聊liáo: Chat casually about everyday life and other light topics.
讨论tǎo lùn: Share and weigh opinions as a group when considering an issue or solving a problem.
Definition in Chinese
向他人表达想法、询问或商量，既可指随意聊天也可指认真商讨。xiàng tā rén biǎo dá xiáng fǎ xún wèn huò shāng liáng jì kě zhǐ suí yì liáo tiān yě kě zhǐ rèn zhēn shāng tǎo
Word origin
谈 (tán, "talk") is the simplified form of 談 (tán, "talk"), whose components are 言 (yán, "speech") + 炎 (yán, "flame"); 言 signals language and 炎 supplies the historical sound.
Usage tips
- This verb fits both casual conversation and serious discussion, with the topic and setting showing how formal the exchange is.