💎 Chinese Reported Speech & Communication Patterns - 说 (shuō) & 对...说 (duì...shuō) - Essential Speech Reporting Mastery

Master the art of reporting speech and communication in Chinese. Learn the crucial patterns 说 (shuō) for introducing reported speech and 对...说 (duì...shuō) for specifying the person being addressed. These structures are essential for describing conversations, reporting what others said, and creating complex communication scenarios in Chinese.

Chinese lesson from Saturday, August 16, 2025

🗣️ Essential Chinese Reported Speech & Communication Patterns

Learn to report speech and communication using the fundamental verb 说 (shuō) and the addressing pattern 对...说 (duì...shuō). Master the art of introducing what someone said, specifying who they said it to, and creating complex reported speech structures. These patterns are essential for describing conversations, reporting statements, and creating sophisticated communication scenarios in Chinese.

Perfect for beginners and essential concepts

📚 Key Phrase: 他说他吃了一个鸡蛋 (tā shuō tā chī le yī gè jī dàn)

📖

Grammar Focus

💎 Essential Chinese Reported Speech & Communication Patterns

Today's lesson focuses on two fundamental Chinese communication patterns crucial for reporting speech and conversations: 说 (shuō) for introducing reported speech and 对...说 (duì...shuō) for specifying the person being addressed. Understanding these patterns is essential for describing conversations, reporting what others said, and creating complex communication scenarios in Chinese. These structures form the backbone of sophisticated communication that accurately represents what people say and to whom they say it.

1. 说 (shuō) - "To Say/Speak" (Basic Reported Speech)

Subject + 说 + Reported Content
Subject + shuō + Reported Content
Introduces what someone said, followed by the reported statement

• 他说他饿了 = He said he was hungry (reported speech)
• 她说她累了 = She said she was tired (reported statement)
• 他说他喜欢中国 = He said he likes China (reported preference)
• Most common pattern for reporting speech in Chinese

他说他饿了

tā shuō tā è le

He said he was hungry

2. 对...说 (duì...shuō) - "Say To Someone" (Addressed Speech)

Subject + 对 + Person + 说 + Content
Subject + duì + Person + shuō + Content
Specifies who the speech is directed to, similar to "say to someone"

• 她对我说她不爱我了 = She told me she doesn't love me anymore
• 他对我说，你好棒 = He told me, "You are awesome"
• 她对我说她明天不来了 = She told me she won't come tomorrow
• Essential for specifying communication recipients

她对我说她不爱我了

tā duì wǒ shuō tā bù ài wǒ le

She told me she doesn't love me anymore

3. 了 (le) - "Completed Action or Change of State"

Verb + 了 (le) in Reported Speech
Indicates completed actions or changes of state
Adds nuance to reported statements without verb conjugation

• 他说他病了 = He said he was sick (change of state)
• 他说他吃了一个鸡蛋 = He said he ate an egg (completed action)
• 她说她累了 = She said she was tired (change of state)
• 了 emphasizes completion or change in reported speech

他说他吃了一个鸡蛋

tā shuō tā chī le yī gè jī dàn

He said he ate an egg

他说他吃了一个鸡蛋

tā shuō tā chī le yī gè jī dàn

He said he ate an egg

Él dijo que se comió un huevo

词汇 Vocabulary Practice

Practice writing the phrases from today's Chinese lesson!

他说他吃了一个鸡蛋

tā shuō tā chī le yī gè jī dàn

English:

He said he ate an egg

Español:

Él dijo que se comió un huevo

他说他饿了

tā shuō tā è le

English:

He said he was hungry

Español:

Él dijo que tenía hambre

他说他不爱我了

tā shuō tā bù ài wǒ le

English:

He said he doesn't love me anymore

Español:

Él dijo que ya no me ama

她对我说她不爱我了

tā duì wǒ shuō tā bù ài wǒ le

English:

She told me she doesn't love me anymore

Español:

Ella me dijo que ya no me ama

他说，你很帅。

tā shuō, nǐ hěn shuài

English:

He said, 'You are handsome.'

Español:

Él dijo: 'Eres guapo.'

他对我说，好丑。

tā duì wǒ shuō, hǎo chǒu

English:

He told me, 'So ugly.'

Español:

Él me dijo: 'Qué feo.'

他对我说，你好棒。

tā duì wǒ shuō, nǐ hǎo bàng

English:

He told me, 'You are awesome.'

Español:

Él me dijo: 'Eres genial.'

他对我说，她很胖。

tā duì wǒ shuō, tā hěn pàng

English:

He told me, 'She is fat.'

Español:

Él me dijo: 'Ella está gorda.'

他说他喜欢中国

tā shuō tā xǐ huan Zhōng guó

English:

He said he likes China

Español:

Él dijo que le gusta China

他说他病了

tā shuō tā bìng le

English:

He said he was sick

Español:

Él dijo que estaba enfermo

她说她累了

tā shuō tā lèi le

English:

She said she was tired

Español:

Ella dijo que estaba cansada

Maylin 说他明天去法国

Maylin shuō tā míng tiān qù Fǎ guó

English:

Maylin said he will go to France tomorrow

Español:

Maylin dijo que él irá a Francia mañana

她对我说她明天不来了

tā duì wǒ shuō tā míng tiān bù lái le

English:

She told me she won't come tomorrow

Español:

Ella me dijo que mañana no vendrá

文化 Cultural Insights

💎 The communication patterns 说 (shuō) and 对...说 (duì...shuō) in Chinese reveal deep aspects of Chinese communication philosophy and social culture. 说 represents the basic act of speaking - using '他说他饿了' (He said he was hungry) shows a focus on the content of communication rather than the relationship between speakers, reflecting Chinese values of information sharing over personal connection. This contrasts with English's more direct 'he said' structure. 对...说 emphasizes the relationship and respect in communication - '她对我说她不爱我了' (She told me she doesn't love me anymore) adds social context and shows proper communication etiquette, demonstrating how Chinese communication patterns can convey social hierarchy and respect through grammatical choice. The particle 了 (le) in reported speech embodies Chinese cultural emphasis on change and completion over static states. Phrases like '他说他病了' (He said he was sick) and '她说她累了' (She said she was tired) create temporal relationships that prioritize the dynamic nature of situations over fixed points in time. This reflects broader Chinese cultural values of change and adaptation, where what matters is not just what someone said, but how that statement reflects a change in their condition or situation. Speech reporting in Chinese is more flexible than in English because Chinese speakers prioritize the relationship between communicators and the context of communication rather than strict chronological precision. The phrase '他对我说，你好棒' (He told me, 'You are awesome') focuses on the personal connection and social context rather than just the content, embodying Chinese philosophy of relationship-based communication and collective consideration. Understanding these nuances helps you communicate not just grammatically correct Chinese, but culturally appropriate Chinese that reflects the deeper values and thinking patterns of Chinese speakers.

🎯 Advanced Chinese Communication & Speech Reporting Mastery

Develop sophisticated skills in Chinese communication patterns and speech reporting. Master the art of creating complex reported speech structures, understanding cultural communication nuances, and using speech patterns for professional and social contexts. Build fluency in advanced communication structures that are central to sophisticated Chinese expression and cultural understanding.

For students ready to dive deeper

📖 Reading Practice

📖 报告语练习 - Reported Speech Practice

Tā shuō tā è le, suǒ yǐ tā yào chī fàn.

他说他饿了，所以他要吃饭。

Tā duì wǒ shuō, tā míng tiān bù lái le.

她对我说，她明天不来了。

Tā shuō tā xǐ huan Zhōng guó, dàn shì tā bù xǐ huan zhōng wén.

他说他喜欢中国，但是他不喜欢中文。

Tā duì wǒ shuō, nǐ hěn piào liang.

她对我说，你很漂亮。

Tā shuō tā lèi le, suǒ yǐ tā yào qù shuì jiào.

他说他累了，所以他要去睡觉。

Tā duì wǒ shuō, tā míng tiān qù Fǎ guó.

她对我说，她明天去法国。

📝 Vocabulary from this reading:

报告语

bào gào yǔ

Reported speech

直接引语

zhí jiē yǐn yǔ

Direct speech

间接引语

jiàn jiē yǐn yǔ

Indirect speech

交流模式

jiāo liú mó shì

Communication patterns

对话

duì huà

Dialogue/Conversation

表达

biǎo dá

Expression

关系

guān xì

Relationship

文化背景

wén huà bèi jǐng

Cultural background

📚 Additional Learning Content

💎 Chinese Communication Culture & Speech Reporting Philosophy

Speech reporting in Chinese is more than just grammar—it's a reflection of how Chinese speakers think about communication, relationships, and social hierarchy. Understanding the cultural context behind 说 (shuō) and 对...说 (duì...shuō) helps you communicate more naturally and appreciate the philosophical differences between Chinese and Western approaches to describing conversations and relationships.

Communication Hierarchy in Chinese Society

Respect and Relationship in Communication
Chinese communication patterns reflect social hierarchy and respect

• 对...说 shows proper respect for the listener
• 说 alone is more casual and direct
• Understanding these differences shows cultural sensitivity
• Communication patterns reveal relationship dynamics

Social Context and Communication
How Chinese speakers adapt communication based on social situation

• Formal situations require 对...说 for politeness
• Casual conversations often use 说 alone
• Business communication emphasizes proper addressing
• Social relationships determine communication style

Emotional Nuance in Reported Speech

Conveying Feelings Through Communication Patterns
How Chinese expresses emotional content in reported speech

• 了 (le) adds emotional weight to statements
• 对...说 shows care and attention to the listener
• Direct quotes emphasize emotional impact
• Indirect speech softens emotional content

Cultural Emotional Expression
Chinese approach to emotional communication

• Chinese often softens direct emotional statements
• 了 creates emotional distance in difficult conversations
• 对...说 shows emotional consideration
• Understanding these patterns improves emotional communication

Advanced Communication Applications

Professional and Academic Communication
Using reported speech in sophisticated contexts

• Business meetings: 老板对我说，我们需要讨论这个问题
• Academic presentations: 教授对我说，我的研究很有价值
• Medical consultations: 医生对我说，我需要多休息
• Professional communication requires precise speech reporting

Creative and Literary Usage
Speech reporting in creative writing and storytelling

• Storytelling: 老人对我说，很久以前...
• Poetry: 诗人说，春天来了
• Novels: 主角说，他永远不会忘记
• Creative writing uses speech reporting for narrative depth

作业 Homework & Practice

📝 Homework for next class:

1. 🗣️ Speech Reporting Practice: Use 说 and 对...说 to report conversations and practice explaining the differences between basic and addressed speech reporting

2. 💬 Communication Role-play: Create scenarios using the vocabulary to report what people said in different situations (work, social, family conversations)

3. 🔄 Direct vs Indirect Speech: Practice converting between direct quotes and indirect reported speech using the new patterns

4. 🌍 Cultural Research: Research how Chinese communication patterns differ from English patterns and practice explaining these differences

5. 🤝 Social Scenarios: Plan and describe communication situations using reported speech to show relationships between speakers

6. 🎯 Professional Communication: Practice using speech reporting patterns in formal contexts like business meetings and academic presentations

💡 Cultural Challenge: Pay attention to how Chinese speakers report conversations in daily life - notice when they use 说 vs 对...说 and how 了 creates different meanings in reported speech contexts!

Practice Checklist:

Review all vocabulary from today's lessonPractice pronunciation of new phrasesCreate your own examples using today's grammar

Ready for More?

Continue your Chinese learning journey with live classes on TikTok. Join thousands of students learning Mandarin every day!

Join Live Classes