解 jiě / jiè / xiè — to separate; to divide; to break up; to loosen; to explain; to untie
这道数学题我解不出来。Zhè dào shù xué tí wǒ jiě bu chū lái.I cannot solve this math problem.
Common words: 了解 (liǎo jiě)、解决 (jiě jué)、理解 (lǐ jiě)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to explain"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to explain", including 解 (jiě / jiè / xiè), 讲 (jiǎng), 申 (shēn). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to explain" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 解 (jiě / jiè / xiè), 讲 (jiǎng), 申 (shēn) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span jiě, jiè, xiè, jiǎng, shēn — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 解 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 解 jiě / jiè / xièto separate; to divide; to break up; to loosen; to explain; to untieUseful words: 了解, 解决
- 讲 jiǎngto talk; speech; to speak; to tell; to explainUseful words: 讲话, 听讲
- 申 shēn(surname); 3-5 p.m.; 9th earthly branch; extend; to state; to explainUseful words: 申请, 申报
Common words for these 3 "to explain" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 解 (jiě / jiè / xiè) — so "to explain" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
了解liǎo jiěto understand; to realize; to find out解决jiě juéto solve; to resolve; to settle (a problem); to eliminate理解lǐ jiěto comprehend; to understand讲话jiǎng huàa speech; to speak; to talk; to address听讲tīng jiǎngto attend a lecture; to listen to a talk演讲yǎn jiǎngto give a lecture; to make a speech申请shēn qǐngto apply for sth; application form (申报shēn bàoto report (to the authorities); to declare (to customs)重申chóng shēnto reaffirm; to reiterate
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "to explain".
讲 jiǎng — to talk; speech; to speak; to tell; to explain
老师正在讲一个有趣的故事。Lǎo shī zhèng zài jiǎng yí ge yǒu qù de gù shi.The teacher is telling an interesting story.
Common words: 讲话 (jiǎng huà)、听讲 (tīng jiǎng)、演讲 (yǎn jiǎng)
申 shēn — (surname); 3-5 p.m.; 9th earthly branch; extend; to state; to explain
他向学校申请了奖学金。Tā xiàng xué xiào shēn qǐng le jiǎng xué jīn.He applied to the school for a scholarship.
Common words: 申请 (shēn qǐng)、申报 (shēn bào)、重申 (chóng shēn)
All 3 characters
Open 解、讲、申 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.