yějiùshìshuō: 也就是说 - In other words, That is to say, Which means

• Keywords: 也就是说, yejiushishuo, Chinese conjunction, in other words in Chinese, that is to say, which means, how to clarify in Chinese, Chinese discourse marker, HSK 4 grammar, Chinese logic connectors.
• Summary: 也就是说 (yě jiù shì shuō) is an essential Chinese phrase that acts as a bridge in conversation, connecting a statement to its clarification, implication, or conclusion. Functioning like “in other words,” “that is to say,” or “which means” in English, it is a crucial tool for both understanding nuanced Chinese and expressing your own thoughts with greater clarity. Mastering 也就是说 is key to moving beyond basic sentences and into more fluid, natural-sounding communication.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yě jiù shì shuō
• Part of Speech: Conjunction / Discourse Marker
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: It means “in other words,” “that is to say,” or “which is to say.”
• In a Nutshell: Think of 也就是说 as a signpost in a sentence that says, “Okay, let me put what I just said a different way” or “Here's the logical conclusion of what I just mentioned.” You use it to rephrase a complex idea into simpler terms, spell out an unspoken implication, or summarize the consequence of a situation. It's the glue that connects a statement with its clearer meaning.

• 也 (yě): Meaning “also” or “too.” In this phrase, it helps to smoothly link the first idea to the second, adding a sense of “this also means…”
• 就 (jiù): A versatile character meaning “then,” “exactly,” or “precisely.” Here, it emphasizes the direct logical link between the statement and the explanation.
• 是 (shì): The fundamental character for “to be,” “is,” or “yes.” It acts as the core “is” in “that is to say.”
• 说 (shuō): Meaning “to say” or “to speak.”

When combined, “也 (also) 就 (then) 是 (is) 说 (to say)” literally translates to “also then is to say.” This construction elegantly forms the meaning of rephrasing or concluding, creating the natural English equivalent of “in other words.”

While 也就是说 is a functional phrase, its frequent use touches upon a subtle aspect of Chinese communication style. In many situations, Chinese communication can be less direct than in Western cultures. A speaker might first present a series of facts, observations, or a polite statement. Then, they use 也就是说 to explicitly connect the dots and state the conclusion or real meaning. For example, instead of directly saying “You can't stay overnight,” a host might say, “Our guest policies require all visitors to leave by 10 PM.” They might then follow up with, “也就是说，你今晚不能在这里过夜。” (“In other words, you can't stay here tonight.”) This isn't about being deceptive; it's a communication strategy that often prioritizes providing context and reasoning before delivering a direct point. Using 也就是说 helps ensure clarity and mutual understanding without being overly blunt, thereby maintaining social harmony. For a learner, recognizing this phrase is a cue to pay close attention, as the most important point of the sentence is often about to be stated.

也就是说 is a neutral-formality phrase, making it incredibly versatile. You will hear it everywhere, from academic lectures and business meetings to casual chats among friends and posts on social media.

• Clarifying a Complex Point: Used to simplify technical jargon, complex data, or an abstract idea.
• Drawing a Logical Conclusion: To state the obvious or necessary outcome of a situation you've just described.
• Delivering Bad News Softly: By stating a fact first and then using 也就是说 to explain the unfortunate implication (as in the cultural example above).
• Summarizing an Idea: To quickly recap the main takeaway from a longer explanation.

• Example 1:
  • 最后一班地铁已经开走了，也就是说，我们只能打车回家了。
  • Pinyin: Zuìhòu yī bān dìtiě yǐjīng kāi zǒu le, yě jiù shì shuō, wǒmen zhǐ néng dǎchē huí jiā le.
  • English: The last subway train has already left, which means we can only take a taxi home.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of drawing a direct, logical conclusion from a stated fact. The fact is the subway is gone; the conclusion is the need to take a taxi.
• Example 2:
  • 他所有的考试都得了A+，也就是说，他是我们班最聪明的学生。
  • Pinyin: Tā suǒyǒu de kǎoshì dōu déle A+, yě jiù shì shuō, tā shì wǒmen bān zuì cōngmíng de xuéshēng.
  • English: He got an A+ on all his exams. In other words, he's the smartest student in our class.
  • Analysis: Here, 也就是说 is used to rephrase the evidence (“all A+ grades”) into a clear summary statement (“he's the smartest student”).
• Example 3:
  • 公司决定取消今年的年会，也就是说，我们没有年终奖了。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī juédìng qǔxiāo jīnnián de niánhuì, yě jiù shì shuō, wǒmen méiyǒu niánzhōngjiǎng le.
  • English: The company decided to cancel this year's annual party, which is to say, we won't be getting a year-end bonus.
  • Analysis: This example shows how the phrase can be used to state an unspoken, often negative, implication. Canceling the party implies no bonus.
• Example 4:
  • 天气预报说明天有暴雨，也就是说，我们明天的野餐得取消了。
  • Pinyin: Tiānqì yùbào shuō míngtiān yǒu bàoyǔ, yě jiù shì shuō, wǒmen míngtiān de yěcān děi qǔxiāo le.
  • English: The weather forecast says there's a rainstorm tomorrow. That is to say, our picnic for tomorrow has to be canceled.
  • Analysis: A clear cause-and-effect conclusion. The forecast (cause) leads to the direct implication (cancellation).
• Example 5:
  • 医生说我需要多休息，少看手机。也就是说，我得改变我的生活习惯。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō wǒ xūyào duō xiūxi, shǎo kàn shǒujī. Yě jiù shì shuō, wǒ děi gǎibiàn wǒ de shēnghuó xíguàn.
  • English: The doctor said I need to rest more and look at my phone less. In other words, I have to change my lifestyle habits.
  • Analysis: This is used to summarize a set of specific instructions (rest more, use phone less) into one general concept (change lifestyle habits).
• Example 6:
  • 这台电脑的价格是8000块，我每个月工资4000块，也就是说，我需要不吃不喝两个月才能买得起。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tái diànnǎo de jiàgé shì bāqiān kuài, wǒ měi gè yuè gōngzī sìqiān kuài, yě jiù shì shuō, wǒ xūyào bù chī bù hē liǎng gè yuè cái néng mǎi de qǐ.
  • English: This computer costs 8000 yuan, and my monthly salary is 4000 yuan. Which means, I'd need to not eat or drink for two months to be able to afford it.
  • Analysis: Here, the phrase introduces a dramatic or illustrative conclusion based on the numbers provided, highlighting the computer's expense relative to the speaker's income.
• Example 7:
  • 他没回你的信息，也没接你的电话，也就是说，他现在可能很忙，或者不想被打扰。
  • Pinyin: Tā méi huí nǐ de xìnxī, yě méi jiē nǐ de diànhuà, yě jiù shì shuō, tā xiànzài kěnéng hěn máng, huòzhě bùxiǎng bèi dǎrǎo.
  • English: He didn't reply to your message, nor did he answer your call. That is to say, he's probably very busy right now, or he doesn't want to be disturbed.
  • Analysis: This shows how 也就是说 can be used to propose a logical inference or interpretation based on observed actions.
• Example 8:
  • 根据合同，项目必须在周五前完成。今天是周四，也就是说，我们只剩一天时间了。
  • Pinyin: Gēnjù hétóng, xiàngmù bìxū zài zhōuwǔ qián wánchéng. Jīntiān shì zhōusì, yě jiù shì shuō, wǒmen zhǐ shèng yī tiān shíjiān le.
  • English: According to the contract, the project must be finished before Friday. Today is Thursday, which means we only have one day left.
  • Analysis: A perfect example for professional or academic contexts, stating a clear conclusion based on established rules and facts.
• Example 9:
  • 你做的这个菜味道很好，就是稍微有点咸…也就是说，下次盐可以少放一点点。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zuò de zhège cài wèidào hěn hǎo, jiùshì shāowéi yǒudiǎn xián… yě jiù shì shuō, xiàcì yán kěyǐ shǎo fàng yīdiǎndiǎn.
  • English: This dish you made tastes great, it's just a little bit salty… I mean, next time you could maybe add a tiny bit less salt.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a very common conversational use: softening criticism. The speaker gives a compliment, states a small issue, and then uses 也就是说 to offer a gentle, constructive suggestion.
• Example 10:
  • 他买了一张去北京的单程票，也就是说，他短期内不打算回来了。
  • Pinyin: Tā mǎile yī zhāng qù Běijīng de dānchéng piào, yě jiù shì shuō, tā duǎnqī nèi bù dǎsuàn huílái le.
  • English: He bought a one-way ticket to Beijing, which implies he doesn't plan on coming back anytime soon.
  • Analysis: The phrase is used to interpret the meaning behind an action. A one-way ticket isn't just a ticket; it's a signal of intent, which 也就是说 helps to articulate.

• 也就是说 vs. 所以 (suǒyǐ): This is a critical distinction.
  • 所以 (suǒyǐ) means “so” and indicates a direct result. (A causes B).
  • 也就是说 (yě jiù shì shuō) means “which means” and indicates a clarification or restatement of meaning. (A means B).
  • Correct: 天下雨了，所以我带了伞。(It's raining, so I brought an umbrella.) - A direct result.
  • Incorrect: 天下雨了，也就是说我带了伞。(It's raining, in other words I brought an umbrella.) - This is illogical. The rain doesn't “mean” you brought an umbrella.
  • Correct: 天气预报说今天会下雨，也就是说，我出门需要带伞。(The forecast says it will rain, which means I need to bring an umbrella.) - This is correct because you are clarifying the *implication* of the forecast.
• 也就是说 vs. 换句话说 (huàn jù huà shuō):
  • These two are very close and often interchangeable.
  • 换句话说 (huàn jù huà shuō) literally means “to change the sentence and say,” emphasizing the act of rephrasing, often for a different audience or from a different angle.
  • 也就是说 can be used for both rephrasing and for drawing a direct, logical conclusion. In general, when you are stating a logical consequence, 也就是说 is slightly more common.
• Don't Overuse It: Using 也就是说 when no clarification or conclusion is needed can make your speech sound redundant. Only use it when you are genuinely bridging a statement to its deeper meaning or implication.

• 换句话说 (huàn jù huà shuō) - The closest synonym, meaning “to put it another way” or “in other words.”
• 就是说 (jiù shì shuō) - A common, slightly more informal, shortened version where the 也 (yě) is dropped.
• 总而言之 (zǒng ér yán zhī) - “In summary,” “in conclusion.” Used to summarize a whole series of points, not just a single preceding sentence. More formal.
• 所以 (suǒyǐ) - “So,” “therefore.” Indicates a direct result or consequence, not a clarification of meaning.
• 因此 (yīncǐ) - A more formal version of 所以, meaning “thus,” “therefore,” “consequently.”
• 这意味着 (zhè yìwèizhe) - A more direct and slightly formal phrase meaning “this means…” or “this implies…”
• 换言之 (huàn yán zhī) - A very formal, literary equivalent of 换句话说, often seen in written texts.