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别说

bié shuō
HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 7 Conjunction

Definitions

  1. 1. to say nothing of; not to mention; let alone

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Word relationships

Related words

1 item
不但
bù dàn

not only (... but also ...)

别说 is used to mean 'not to mention' in a progressive sense, similar to 不但...而且 but in a negative context.

Synonyms

1 item
何况
hé kuàng

let alone

Both mean 'let alone', but 何况 is more formal and often used in rhetorical questions.

Usage notes

Collocations

别说 is often used with 就是/连...也/都 to mean 'even...not to mention'. Example: 别说他了，就是老师也不会。

Common mistakes

别说 cannot be used as a verb meaning 'don't say'. For 'Don't say that', use 不要说 or 别这么说.

Grammar

Guides that feature 别说

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3 guides
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 6 min
……不说，还…… for “Not Only …, But Also …”

Pile one point on top of another in casual Chinese with ……不说，还……, as in 这家饭馆菜贵不说，服务还特别慢.

Reading: bié shuō Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 5 min
（你）还别说 for “You Know, It’s Actually True”

Use （你）还别说 to admit that something turned out better or truer than you expected.

Reading: bié shuō Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 6 min
别说……，（连）……都/也…… for “Never Mind …, Even …”

Wave away an obvious case with 别说 and then give a more extreme one with 连……都 or 就是……也: 别说我，连老师都没做出来.

Reading: bié shuō Open guide

Example Sentences

1 shown
别说 小孩子，就是大人也不一定明白。
Let alone children, even adults may not understand.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 别说

别
biè

to make sb change their ways, opinions etc

说
shuì

to persuade

说
shuō

to speak; to talk; to say

别
bié

to leave