解释解釋 jiěshì — to explain; an explanation
jiěshì (third tone, dipping)jie3shi4
Traditional: 解釋
to explain; an explanation
HSK 4· HSK 1–4 (classic)verbnoun
Meanings
to explain; an explanation
解, to untie, and 释, to release — loosening something knotted until its sense comes free. It reaches for the person listening with 给: 老师给我解释了这个语法, the teacher explained this grammar point to me.
verb
Example sentences
- 老师给我解释了这个语法，我现在明白了。老師給我解釋了這個語法，我現在明白了。Lǎoshī (third tone, dipping) gěi (third tone, dipping) wǒ (third tone, dipping) jiěshìle (third tone, dipping) zhège (fourth tone, falling) yǔfǎ, (third tone, dipping) wǒ (third tone, dipping) xiànzài (fourth tone, falling) míngbai (second tone, rising) le. (neutral tone)···
The teacher explained this grammar point to me — I understand it now.
- 这件事很难解释清楚。這件事很難解釋清楚。Zhè (fourth tone, falling) jiàn (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) hěn (third tone, dipping) nán (second tone, rising) jiěshì (third tone, dipping) qīngchu. (first tone, high and level)···
This matter is hard to explain clearly.
Common mistakes
Not quite老师解释我这个语法。
Correct老师给我解释了这个语法。
解释 takes the thing explained as its object; the person it is explained to needs 给 in front of them — 解释 does not take two objects the way 教 or 告诉 can.