How do you use "say" in a sentence?

What did she say to you? I would say it takes about an hour. Say hello to your parents for me.

say

Q: What does "say" mean?

To utter words; to express in words The verb 'say' is used to report speech and express thoughts verbally. Unlike 'tell', 'say' does not require a personal object ('she said' vs 'she told me'). 'Say' is used for direct quotes and in expressions like 'that is to say' and 'needless to say'. It can also express approximately ('say, five minutes').

Vocabulary Word BritishAmerican ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: To utter words; to express in words

说，讲，表达

decir

言う、述べる

말하다, 이야기하다

The verb 'say' is used to report speech and express thoughts verbally. Unlike 'tell', 'say' does not require a personal object ('she said' vs 'she told me'). 'Say' is used for direct quotes and in expressions like 'that is to say' and 'needless to say'. It can also express approximately ('say, five minutes').

「say」用于报告言语和口头表达想法。与「tell」不同，「say」不需要人称宾语（「she said」对比「she told me」）。「say」用于直接引语和「that is to say」、「needless to say」等表达中。它也可以表示大约（「say, five minutes」）。

El verbo «say» se usa para reportar el habla y expresar pensamientos verbalmente. A diferencia de «tell», «say» no requiere un objeto personal («she said» vs «she told me»). «Say» se usa para citas directas y en expresiones como «that is to say» y «needless to say». También puede expresar aproximadamente («say, five minutes»).

「say」は発言を報告し、考えを口頭で表現するために使われます。「tell」と異なり、「say」は人称目的語を必要としません（「she said」対「she told me」）。「say」は直接引用や「that is to say」、「needless to say」などの表現で使われます。おおよそを表すこともできます（「say, five minutes」）。

동사 'say'는 발화를 전달하고 생각을 말로 표현하는 데 사용됩니다. 'tell'과 달리 'say'는 인칭 목적어가 필요하지 않습니다('she said' vs 'she told me'). 직접 인용이나 'that is to say', 'needless to say' 같은 표현에 쓰입니다. 대략의 의미('say, five minutes')로도 사용됩니다.

Examples

What did she say to you?
她对你说了什么？
¿Qué te dijo?
彼女はあなたに何と言いましたか？
그녀가 당신에게 뭐라고 말했나요?
I would say it takes about an hour.
我估计大约需要一个小时。
Yo diría que tarda aproximadamente una hora.
1時間くらいかかると思います。
한 시간 정도 걸릴 것 같습니다.
Say hello to your parents for me.
替我向你父母问好。
Saluda a tus padres de mi parte.
ご両親によろしくお伝えください。
부모님께 안부 전해 주세요.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: general

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old English 'secgan', meaning 'to speak' or 'to tell', from Proto-Germanic *sagjaną. Related to Old Norse 'segja' and German 'sagen'. One of the most common verbs of communication.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

say

Examples

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Origin & History

Cultural Context

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