<p>Generally, both are the same meaning of "speak". But still have a little difference: </p>

<h2>"讲" usually used in oral Chinese,and sometimes it means speak by one person without others' opinion on the topic he talked about</h2>

<h2>"说" different from "讲", it always used in written chinese and refers to many people,they are discussing and expressing their different opinions or one express his opinion with others agree with that.</h2>

<p>"讲"--(as a verb) to speak, to give a speech, to say something in a logical way<br>
"说"--(as a verb) to say, to talk</p>

<p>"说" and "讲" can be tricky, when both 说 and 讲 are interchangeable, 讲 feels a little more colloquial whereas 说 is usually used on formal occasions.</p>

<pre><code>Example: 说谎 = To tell a lie
         说明 = to explain (literally, say clear). 
         说不定 = perhaps/maybe.

Example when both are interchangeable
         说话／讲话 = speak/talk
         说故事／讲故事 = tell a story
         你说什么？／你讲什么？ = What are you saying?
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-10T00:53:32.240Z
I heard it the other way around, that 讲 is more formal/written, and 说 is more colloquial/oral (which is what Marquis Lin mentions.) This could also be why I often hear 说 in speech in mainland China, but 讲 in speech in older people in Malaysia (and neubau mentions in Taiwan.)
Ming
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2014-10-09T04:46:29.200Z
2014-10-09T04:46:29.200Z
user3835327
<p>Sometimes 说 = 讲, in Chinese, one word may have a lot of different meaning, and a lot of words may have same meaning. 
In normal, 说 like we daily use to speak, 讲 like official statement which more formal.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-09T05:10:53.317Z
2014-10-09T05:10:53.317Z
Marquis  Lin
<p>It seems that in most cases, the two are interchangeable. For example: <a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/5919/is-it-%E8%AA%AA-%E8%AF%B4-shu%C5%8D-or-%E8%AC%9B-%E8%AE%B2-ji%C7%8Eng-for-to-speak-a-language">Is it 說 /说 / shuō or 講 / 讲 / jiǎng for &quot;to speak a language&quot;?</a></p>

<p>Apart from fixed phrases, when would you use one rather than the other? When is only one suitable? Are there regional differences to this preference and what are they?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-09T14:07:45.483Z
I remember learning that 講 is often used in Taiwan.
neubau
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T10:41:21.747Z
In Cantonese 說　is never used to mean speak or talk. 講 is used.
velut luna
<meaning><synonyms>
What's the difference between 说 and 讲?
# What's the difference between 说 and 讲?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-09)

It seems that in most cases, the two are interchangeable. For example: [Is it 說 /说 / shuō or 講 / 讲 / jiǎng for "to speak a language"?](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/5919/is-it-%E8%AA%AA-%E8%AF%B4-shu%C5%8D-or-%E8%AC%9B-%E8%AE%B2-ji%C7%8Eng-for-to-speak-a-language)

Apart from fixed phrases, when would you use one rather than the other? When is only one suitable? Are there regional differences to this preference and what are they?

**Tags:** meaning, synonyms

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I remember learning that 講 is often used in Taiwan.  
> **username_2**: In Cantonese 說　is never used to mean speak or talk. 講 is used.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-10-09. Score: 4

Generally, both are the same meaning of "speak". But still have a little difference:

## "讲" usually used in oral Chinese,and sometimes it means speak by one person without others' opinion on the topic he talked about

## "说" different from "讲", it always used in written chinese and refers to many people,they are discussing and expressing their different opinions or one express his opinion with others agree with that.

"讲"--(as a verb) to speak, to give a speech, to say something in a logical way  
"说"--(as a verb) to say, to talk

"说" and "讲" can be tricky, when both 说 and 讲 are interchangeable, 讲 feels a little more colloquial whereas 说 is usually used on formal occasions.

```
Example: 说谎 = To tell a lie
         说明 = to explain (literally, say clear). 
         说不定 = perhaps/maybe.

Example when both are interchangeable
         说话／讲话 = speak/talk
         说故事／讲故事 = tell a story
         你说什么？／你讲什么？ = What are you saying?

```

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I heard it the other way around, that 讲 is more formal/written, and 说 is more colloquial/oral (which is what username_5 Lin mentions.) This could also be why I often hear 说 in speech in mainland China, but 讲 in speech in older people in Malaysia (and username_1 mentions in Taiwan.)  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2014-10-09. Score: 1

Sometimes 说 = 讲, in Chinese, one word may have a lot of different meaning, and a lot of words may have same meaning.
In normal, 说 like we daily use to speak, 讲 like official statement which more formal.


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