解释

解釋

jiěshì

verb HSK 4 #555

Meanings

Both characters mean 'to untie/explain' — like untangling something confusing.

你能解释一下这个词吗？

Nǐ néng jiěshì yīxià zhège cí ma?

Can you explain this word?

他的解释很清楚。

Tā de jiěshì hěn qīngchǔ.

His explanation was very clear.

不需要解释，我明白了。

Bù xūyào jiěshì, wǒ míngbai le.

No need to explain, I understand.

grammar

解释一下 is softer than 解释. Adding 一下 makes requests more polite: 请解释一下 (please explain briefly).

usage

Related: 解释不清 (can't explain clearly), 做出解释 (give an explanation — more formal).

解 jiě

释 shì