交代

jiāodài

verb HSK 5 #7,711

Meanings

老板交代了几件重要的事。

Lǎobǎn jiāodài le jǐ jiàn zhòngyào de shì.

The boss gave instructions on several important matters.

你得把事情交代清楚。

Nǐ děi bǎ shìqing jiāodài qīngchu.

You need to explain the matter clearly.

犯人终于交代了一切。

Fànrén zhōngyú jiāodài le yīqiè.

The criminal finally confessed everything.

usage

Three common meanings: (1) give instructions/assign tasks, (2) explain/account for, (3) confess (in legal/police context).

grammar

交代清楚 means 'to explain clearly.' 交代任务 means 'to assign a task.'

交 jiāo

代 dài