言归正传

言歸正傳
yánguīzhèngzhuàn
idiom #13,497

Meanings

  1. 1 to get back to the main topic
  2. 2 but I digress; let's return to the subject

Examples

Hǎo le, yánguīzhèngzhuàn, wǒmen lái tǎolùn jīntiān de zhǔtí.
Alright, let's get back to the point and discuss today's topic.
Xiánhuà shǎo shuō, yánguīzhèngzhuàn.
Enough small talk, let's get back to the main subject.

Tips

history
Originally from traditional Chinese storytelling (). After a digression, the storyteller would say 言归正传 — literally 'words return to the proper story' — to signal returning to the main narrative.
usage
Commonly used in speeches, meetings, and conversations after going off on a tangent. Works both formally and casually.

Stroke Order

yán
guī
zhèng
chuán