Direct/Indirect Speech
Spoken Description
了解中文中的直接引语与间接引语的用法差异，涵盖转述动词变化、时间变化、指示代词的变化等。提供详细示例和练习，帮助学习者正确转述对话和引述。
Learn the differences between direct speech and indirect speech in Chinese. Covers key points like verb tense changes, pronoun and time shifts, and gives plenty of examples and exercises to practice transforming dialogue and quotations.
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Direct speech reports exactly what someone said, while indirect speech (also called reported speech) summarizes or reshapes the original words. This guide shows how to convert between them in Mandarin Chinese with examples and common markers.
Direct Speech
Direct speech repeats the original utterance verbatim and is typically enclosed in quotation marks 「 」 or sometimes double quotes “ ”. The reporting verb such as 说 shuō or 问 wèn introduces the quote. Time and place expressions remain as in the original.
Indirect Speech
Indirect speech relays the gist of what was said without quoting exactly. The original words are often adjusted to fit the grammar of the reporting sentence, and quotation marks are removed. Reported clauses are introduced by phrases like 他 说 tā shuō that you then follow with a content clause.
Reporting Verbs
Common reporting verbs include 说 shuō, 问 wèn, 告诉 gàosu, 回答 huídá, and 叫 jiào. Each can be followed by a direct quote or by a complementary sentence that serves as indirect speech. Choosing the right verb helps signal whether you are giving an exact quotation or a summary.
Time and Place
When shifting from direct to indirect speech, time and place expressions often change to fit the new context. Words like 现在 xiànzài, 今天 jīntiān, and 这里 zhèlǐ are replaced with 那时 nà shí, 那天 nà tiān, and 那里 nà lǐ to maintain reference. This ensures the reported speech remains coherent relative to when and where you are speaking.
他说：“我就在这里等你。” →他说他就在等我。
He said: "I'll wait for you here." → He said he would wait for me there.
Adjust the place expression for indirect speech: 他说：“我就在这里等你。” →他说他就在 __ 等我。
Questions
Yes–no and wh-questions turn into indirect questions after the reporting verb. Mandarin retains question words like nǎ (哪) or shénme (什么) in indirect speech, and yes–no questions are often rephrased using whether or by embedding the question as a complement. The particle ma (吗) is removed in indirect questions.
Commands
Commands and requests are reported using verbs like 要 yào, 让 ràng, 请 qǐng, and 告诉 gàosu. The original imperative can be softened into an infinitive or a clause introduced by 让 ràng or similar markers. This allows you to convey orders, invitations, and demands in reported form.
Examples
Summary
Direct speech quotes the exact words and keeps the original expressions, while indirect speech rephrases and integrates the report into your sentence. Time, place, and question forms often shift to match the new context. Practice converting between the two and pay attention to reporting verbs and connectors.
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