说明shuō míngto explain; to illustrate; to indicate; to show; to prove

1. 1.

   to explain; to illustrate; to indicate; to show; to proveverb

2. 2.

   explanation; directionsnoun

• 说to explain; to comment
• 明(of meaning) clear

说明 can take a person's words or a fact as its subject; with a fact it often means the fact shows something.

1. HSK 2

   老师给我们说明了考试的时间。

   Lǎoshī gěi wǒmen shuōmíng le kǎoshì de shíjiān.

   The teacher explained the exam time to us.

2. HSK 2

   他每天都来，这说明他很喜欢这里。

   Tā měi tiān dōu lái, zhè shuōmíng tā hěn xǐhuan zhèlǐ.

   He comes every day, which shows that he really likes it here.

3. HSK 3

   买电脑以前，你可以先看看说明。

   Mǎi diànnǎo yǐqián, nǐ kěyǐ xiān kànkan shuōmíng.

   Before buying a computer, you can read the directions first.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   我的新手机不能打电话了。

   Wǒ de xīn shǒujī bù néng dǎ diànhuà le.

   My new phone can't make calls anymore.

2. 
   Speaker B:

   你看过手机里的说明吗？

   Nǐ kàn guo shǒujī lǐ de shuōmíng ma?

   Have you read the directions in the phone?

3. 
   Speaker A:

   看了，可是我看不懂。

   Kàn le, kěshì wǒ kàn bu dǒng.

   I did, but I can't understand them.

4. 
   Speaker B:

   我哥哥很懂手机，明天让他给你说明一下。

   Wǒ gēge hěn dǒng shǒujī, míngtiān ràng tā gěi nǐ shuōmíng yíxià.

   My older brother knows phones well. Tomorrow I'll have him explain it to you.

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Related words

• 再说zài shuōto put off a discussion until laterHSK 4
• 证明zhèng míngto proveHSK 4
• 听说tīng shuōto hear (sth said)HSK 3
• 明白míng baito understand; to realizeHSK 3
• 聪明cōng mingintelligent; clever; brightHSK 3
• 说shuōto speak; to talk; to sayHSK 1

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