Chinese–EnglishWith examples

长话短说

cháng huà duǎn shuō · chang hua duan shuo

Traditional 長話短說

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to make a long story short (idiom)
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In a conversation

0:24 cartoon

A very short story

  1. Liangliang

    灯灯(dēngdēng)，我(wǒ)给(gěi)你(nǐ)讲(jiǎng)个(gè)故事(gùshi)，有点(yǒudiǎn)长(cháng)。

    Dengdeng, let me tell you a story. It is a bit long.

  2. Dengdeng

    长话短说(chánghuàduǎnshuō)吧(ba)，我(wǒ)马上(mǎshàng)要(yào)上班(shàngbān)了(le)。

    Make it short please. I have to go to work soon.

  3. Liangliang

    好(hǎo)。昨天(zuótiān)我(wǒ)去(qù)买菜(mǎicài)，遇到(yùdào)了(le)老同学(lǎotóngxué)。

    OK. Yesterday I went grocery shopping and ran into an old classmate.

  4. Dengdeng

    然后(ránhòu)呢(ne)？

    And then?

  5. Liangliang

    我们(wǒmen)聊(liáo)了(le)一下午(yīxiàwǔ)。长话短说(chánghuàduǎnshuō)，今晚(jīnwǎn)你(nǐ)来(lái)我(wǒ)家(jiā)吃饭(chīfàn)。

    We chatted all afternoon. Long story short, come to my place for dinner tonight.

  6. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)这个(zhège)“短(duǎn)”也(yě)太(tài)短(duǎn)了(le)，故事(gùshi)我(wǒ)都(dōu)没(méi)听懂(tīngdǒng)！

    Your "short" is far too short. I did not even understand the story!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

长(cháng)话(huà)短(duǎn)说(shuō)，会(huì)议(yì)改(gǎi)到(dào)下(xià)周(zhōu)三(sān)举(jǔ)行(xíng)。

To make a long story short, the meeting has been moved to next Wednesday.

02

长(cháng)话(huà)短(duǎn)说(shuō)，我(wǒ)们(men)决(jué)定(dìng)接(jiē)受(shòu)他(tā)们(men)的(de)报(bào)价(jià)。

To make a long story short, we've decided to accept their offer.

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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.

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