说情

• Pinyin: shuō qíng
• Hanzi breakdown: 说 = 言 (speech) + 兑 (exchange); 情 = 忄(heart radical) + 青 (pure) — feeling, sentiment

Meaning

To plead for someone; to intercede on another's behalf; to speak in favour of someone in the hope of securing leniency or a concession.

Used when someone approaches an authority figure to speak up for a third party, typically to reduce punishment or secure a favour. Common in legal, workplace, and social contexts. Carries an earnest tone and may imply bending of rules or favouritism depending on context.

Examples

1. 他的朋友去领导那里说情，希望能为他争取到一次改过的机会。 His friend went to the leader to plead for him, hoping to secure him a chance to make amends.
2. 尽管有人出面说情，法院仍然依法对他进行了严肃处理。 Even though someone tried to intercede, the court still handled the case strictly according to the law.
3. 父亲亲自去学校为儿子说情，请求校方给他一次留校察看的机会。 The father went to the school in person to plead on his son’s behalf, asking the school to give him a chance to remain enrolled under probation.

Usage Guide

Context: social interaction, legal, intercession

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 她的老上司专程赶来为她说情，希望公司能够宽大处理。(Her former superior came specially to plead on her behalf, hoping the company would deal with her leniently.)
• 案件审理期间，多名证人为被告说情，称其平日品行端正，并无主观恶意。(During the trial, several witnesses spoke in the defendant's favour, attesting that his everyday conduct was upright and that he harboured no deliberate malicious intent.)

Don't Say

• 不宜将 说情 用于正式法律程序中的 作证 — 说情 implies informal pleading or interceding on someone's behalf, not formal testimony; in legal contexts use 作证 or 陈述 instead

Origin & History

说 (speak) + 情 (sentiment, feeling) — to speak of feelings on another's behalf; to plead a case through personal appeal

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal