Kilo Lingo

(jiě shì) - to explain; explanation in Mandarin

jiěshì

Traditional: 解釋

Line drawing of 解释
Coloured illustration of 解释
HSK 4
#660 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

to explain; explanation

Word origin

解释 means 'to explain': 解 (jiě, 'to untie, to analyse', showing a knife parting a horn from an ox) plus 释 (shì, 'to release, to interpret', simplified from 釋). Together: to unpick and make clear.

Origin
compound
Root
解 (jiě, to analyse) + 释 (shì, to interpret)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 解

Stroke order for 释

Examples

Please explain a bit.

He couldn't explain his behaviour.

The teacher explained this question.

Please explain it clearly.

He explained the reason.

Used in

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This word is part of lesson 14.