Learn a Chinese Character - 讲

1. Character Basics

Radical: 讠/yán radical (言字旁)

Stroke Count: 6

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jiǎng (third tone)

3. Meaning

speak, talk, tell, explain

4. Common Words

• 讲话 (jiǎng huà) - to speak, speech
• 演讲 (yǎn jiǎng) - to give a speech
• 讲解 (jiǎng jiě) - to explain, to expound
• 讲述 (jiǎng shù) - to tell, to narrate
• 讲课 (jiǎng kè) - to teach a class, to give a lecture
• 讲道理 (jiǎng dào lǐ) - to reason with, to be reasonable

5. Grammar & Usage

讲 is primarily used as a verb meaning "to speak," "to talk," or "to explain." It is one of the most commonly used verbs in Chinese for referring to verbal communication.

When used with objects, 讲 can be followed by nouns to indicate what is being spoken about. For example, 讲故事 (jiǎng gù shi) means "to tell a story," and 讲中文 (jiǎng zhōng wén) means "to speak Chinese."

讲 can also be used in the structure 讲...给...听 (jiǎng...gěi...tīng), which means "to tell...to..." or "to explain...to...". For example, 我讲这个问题给他听 (Wǒ jiǎng zhè ge wèn tí gěi tā tīng) means "I explained this problem to him."

The character 讲 is often combined with other characters to form more specific verbs related to speaking, such as 演讲 (to give a speech) and 讲解 (to explain in detail).

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the ability to 讲 (speak, talk) effectively is highly valued. Clear communication is seen as essential in both personal relationships and professional settings.

Traditional Chinese education places great emphasis on the ability to 讲解 (explain) and 讲述 (narrate) ideas clearly. This is reflected in the importance given to public speaking and presentations in both academic and professional contexts.

The concept of 讲道理 (jiǎng dào lǐ), which means "to reason with" or "to be reasonable," is deeply rooted in Chinese philosophy. It reflects the cultural value of resolving conflicts through rational discourse rather than through force or coercion.

The character 讲 combines the radical 讠 (言字旁), which is related to speech or language, with 井 (jǐng, well). This combination is thought to symbolize the idea of drawing water from a well, which can be metaphorically extended to drawing words or ideas from one's mind to communicate with others.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character 讲 consists of 讠 (言字旁), which is the radical for words or speech, and 井 (jǐng, well). The speech radical on the left clearly indicates that this character is related to speaking or talking.

To remember 讲, you can think of a well (井) as a source of water, and the speech radical (讠) as a source of words. Just as water flows from a well, words flow when we 讲 (speak).

Another way to remember: Imagine someone standing by a well (井) and speaking (讠) to others. This image connects the visual components of the character with its meaning.