就是说

• Pinyin: jiù shì shuō
• Hanzi breakdown: 就是 (exactly/is) + 说 (say) -> what I am saying is exactly that.

Meaning

Exactly; that is what I mean, often used to echo or summarize a point.

Young speakers use it as a conversational agreement marker, similar to “right?” or “that’s the thing.” It can also introduce a clarification.

Examples

1. 就是说，别把小事复杂化。 Exactly - don't make a small thing more complicated than it needs to be.
2. 这个价格太离谱了，就是说。 That price is outrageous, I mean.
3. 就是说，我们需要先统一口径。 Exactly - we need to get on the same page first.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, comments, work chat, daily conversation

Tone: conversational, emphatic

Do Say

• 就是说，重点不是谁先开口。（Use to align with a point.）
• 就是说可以放句首，也可以放句尾。（It works as a discourse marker.）

Don't Say

• 在正式论文里频繁写就是说。（Too colloquial as a filler.）

Common Mistakes

• Thinking it always means explanation; in slang it often signals agreement.

Origin & History

Originally a discourse phrase meaning “that is to say,” shortened in online speech into an agreement reaction.

Cultural Context

Era: 2020s

Generation: Gen Z and Millennials, now broadly understood

Social background: Urban online speakers, students, and workers

Regional notes: Used across Mainland China, especially in online and casual speech.