<p>The order means nothing.  Here is a simple guide:</p>

<p>When 说 in 说服, 说客, 游说, use shuì.  shuō  for every case else.</p>

<p>A more simple rule, only use shuì when 游说, 说shuō服, 说shuō客 is acceptable.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-23T07:36:23.043Z
说shuō服 is acceptable. 说shuō客 is not, it must be shuì.
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-23T09:46:57.597Z
No, there are also many people say 说shuō客, thought it may sounds
sfy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-23T07:06:11.930Z
2018-05-23T07:06:11.930Z
sfy
<p>Yes, it's correct. 
shui4 说客 说士 lobbyist 说服 persuade 说导 enlighten etc.
However considering that many people today mix them up In pronunciation, 说 is supposed to be pronouned as shuo1 In both meanings, according to the latest edition of 《现代汉语词典》, with many other pronunciation adjustments as well.
The whole thing is controversial. Highly educated people refuse to succumb to the mispronunciation, though so prevalent nowadays.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-23T07:28:56.897Z
2018-05-23T07:53:24.167Z
2018-05-23T07:53:24.167Z
Toosky Hierot
<p>I have installed Chinese character dictionary popup plugin into the browser and it showed for 说 character:</p>

<pre><code>说   說   shuì   to persuade
说   說   shuō   to speak; to say; to explain; to scold; to tell off; a theory (typically the last character in a compound, as in 日心說|日心说 heliocentric theory)
</code></pre>

<p>Is this correct? Why does <code>shuì</code> go first?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-23T06:51:24.440Z
shuì comes first because it's alphabetically first. For differences in meaning, etc. see this answer https://chinese.stackexchange.com/a/8848/4136
Mou某
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-31T01:23:49.370Z
ordered by pronunciation,  shui < shuo when program sorts 2 strings.
Daniel Yang
<characters><transcription>
My dictionary shows 说 is both shuì and shuō
# My dictionary shows 说 is both shuì and shuō

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-23)

I have installed Chinese character dictionary popup plugin into the browser and it showed for 说 character:

```
说   說   shuì   to persuade
说   說   shuō   to speak; to say; to explain; to scold; to tell off; a theory (typically the last character in a compound, as in 日心說|日心说 heliocentric theory)

```

Is this correct? Why does `shuì` go first?

**Tags:** characters, transcription

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: shuì comes first because it's alphabetically first. For differences in meaning, etc. see this answer https://chinese.stackexchange.com/a/8848/4136  
> **username_2**: ordered by pronunciation,  shui < shuo when program sorts 2 strings.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2018-05-23. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Yes, it's correct.
shui4 说客 说士 lobbyist 说服 persuade 说导 enlighten etc.
However considering that many people today mix them up In pronunciation, 说 is supposed to be pronouned as shuo1 In both meanings, according to the latest edition of 《现代汉语词典》, with many other pronunciation adjustments as well.
The whole thing is controversial. Highly educated people refuse to succumb to the mispronunciation, though so prevalent nowadays.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-05-23. Score: 1

The order means nothing. Here is a simple guide:

When 说 in 说服, 说客, 游说, use shuì. shuō for every case else.

A more simple rule, only use shuì when 游说, 说shuō服, 说shuō客 is acceptable.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: 说shuō服 is acceptable. 说shuō客 is not, it must be shuì.  
> **username_3**: No, there are also many people say 说shuō客, thought it may sounds  

---

