Chinese–EnglishWith examples

说来话长

shuō lái huà cháng · shuo lai hua chang

Traditional 說來話長

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. start explaining and it's a long story (idiom); complicated and not easy to express succinctly
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:17 cartoon

Two hours late

  1. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)怎么(zěnme)迟到(chídào)了(le)两个(liǎnggè)小时(xiǎoshí)？

    Why are you two hours late?

  2. Dengdeng

    说来话长(shuōláihuàcháng)。

    It is a long story.

  3. Liangliang

    没关系(méiguānxi)，你(nǐ)慢慢(mànmàn)说(shuō)。

    No problem. Take your time.

  4. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)先(xiān)坐错(zuòcuò)了(le)地铁(dìtiě)，又(yòu)坐错(zuòcuò)了(le)公交车(gōngjiāochē)。

    First I took the wrong subway, then the wrong bus.

  5. Liangliang

    这(zhè)也(yě)算(suàn)说来话长(shuōláihuàcháng)？

    That counts as a long story?

  6. Dengdeng

    好吧(hǎoba)，我(wǒ)只是(zhǐshì)想(xiǎng)多(duō)喝(hē)一杯(yībēi)茶(chá)。

    Okay, I just wanted one more cup of tea.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

「你(nǐ)们(men)俩(liǎ)怎(zěn)么(me)认(rèn)识(shi)的(de)呀(ya)？」「说(shuō)来(lái)话(huà)长(cháng)。」

"How did you two meet?" "It's a long story."

Tatoeba: Chinese by DaoSeng · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

这(zhè)件(jiàn)事(shì)说(shuō)来(lái)话(huà)长(cháng)，我(wǒ)以(yǐ)后(hòu)再(zài)慢(màn)慢(màn)告(gào)诉(su)你(nǐ)。

This matter is a long story; I'll tell you slowly later.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

Browse all wordsExplore words in context