说服

• Pinyin: shuō fú
• Hanzi breakdown: 说 = 讠(speech) + 兑 (exchange), meaning to speak; 服 = 月 (body) + 卩 (kneeling person) + 又 (hand), meaning to submit or obey

Meaning

To persuade; to convince. To talk someone into accepting an idea or doing something.

Means to use words and reasoning to change someone's mind or get them to agree. Can be used for both positive persuasion and negative manipulation, though the word itself is neutral. Often used with 把 or 被 constructions.

Examples

1. 我花了很长时间才说服他同意我的计划。 It took me a long time to persuade him to agree to my plan.
2. 她终于被朋友说服去参加了派对。 She was finally convinced by her friends to go to the party.
3. 不管怎么说，他都说服不了他妈妈。 No matter what he says, he can't convince his mum.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, negotiation, relationships

Tone: persuasive

Do Say

• 你能不能帮我说服他来参加活动？(Can you help me persuade him to come to the event?)
• 他的理由很充分，说服了所有人。(His reasons were very convincing and persuaded everyone.)

Don't Say

• 老师说服了我们数学知识。(Don't use 说服 for teaching — it means to convince, not to teach. Use 教 for teaching.)

Origin & History

Compound of 说 (to speak, to say) and 服 (to submit, to be convinced), literally 'to speak someone into submission.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal