Understanding Reported Speech and Quotation in Mandarin

What is Reported Speech?

Reported speech involves relaying what someone else has said, usually without quoting them word-for-word. In Mandarin, the concept is quite similar to English, but with some grammatical differences.

Differences Between Quotation and Reported Speech

In Mandarin, direct quotations use quotation marks and maintain the original speech structure. Reported speech, on the other hand, modifies this structure, often using the conjunction "说" (shuō) to transition into the reported conversation.

Using Direct Quotation in Mandarin

When quoting someone directly, Mandarin uses quotes similar to English. For instance: 我 "喜 欢这 本 书" (I like this book), he said.

Transitioning to Reported Speech

In reported speech, it's common to use the conjunction 说 to introduce what someone else has said. For example: 他 说 他 喜欢这 本 书 (He said that he likes this book).

• Maintain subject-verb-object order
• Use 说 (shuō) as a transition
• No quotation marks needed

Common Pitfalls and Tips

While English learners might naturally want to shift tenses back (e.g., 'he says' becomes 'he said'), it's crucial to understand that such changes are unnecessary in Mandarin.