# How to Use 所谓……，就是…… in Chinese | HSKReady Canonical: https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-explanatory-clauses-g100 Language: en Content ID: web-grammar-hsk-7-9-g100 HSK levels: 7-9 Updated: 2026-10-23T04:57:43.648Z Scope: published website educational content; full vocabulary, question bank and mock exams remain in the app. Learn how this Chinese explanation pattern introduces a term and gives its meaning, with usage guidance, contrasts, and examples. Grammar [HSK 7-9 · Sentence types › Single-level complex sentences › Explanatory clauses](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9#hsk-7-9-g100) # Explaining What a Term Means: 所谓……，就是…… The pattern 所谓……，就是…… presents a term or idea and explains what it means. Learn how to form it, when it fits, and how it differs from a simple definition or a critical use of 所谓. 所谓 term or idea being explained ，就是 meaning or clarification 。 Example sentence 所谓法治，就是公共权力也必须依法行使。 Suǒwèi fǎzhì, jiùshì gōnggòng quánlì yě bìxū yīfǎ xíngshǐ. What is meant by the rule of law is that public power, too, must be exercised according to law. A neutral explanation of a political and legal concept. **Read the full explanation and examples** ## The pattern and its purpose The HSK 7–9 outline lists this item under explanatory compound sentences, with the pattern 所谓……，就是……。 The outline establishes the scope and level of this lesson; it does not establish which examination version is currently administered at every test center. The teaching explanations and examples here are original. (hsk-7-9-g100) Use the first part to name a word, concept, practice, or claim that may need clarification. The second part gives the explanation: in effect, “What is called X is Y” or “X means Y.” 就是 links the proposed term to its explanation. The explanation may define the term, describe its central feature, or make an abstract idea more concrete. 所谓 term or idea being explained ，就是 meaning or clarification 。 - 所谓 introduces the expression or idea being explained; it does not need to be followed by a single dictionary word. - The first slot can contain a phrase or a longer noun phrase. The second slot commonly gives a definition, identifying feature, or clarifying description. - The parts are usually connected with a comma in writing. The sentence normally ends with a full stop when it makes a statement. ## Make the explanation do real work A useful second part tells the reader what the named idea amounts to in the current discussion. Avoid merely repeating the term with no clarification. The explanation need not be a formal dictionary definition: it can state a practical effect, a defining condition, or what participants actually do. Choose a level of detail that suits the context; a broad concept may need a description rather than a strict one-line definition. 所谓法治，就是公共权力也必须依法行使。 Suǒwèi fǎzhì, jiùshì gōnggòng quánlì yě bìxū yīfǎ xíngshǐ. What is meant by the rule of law is that public power, too, must be exercised according to law. A neutral explanation of a political and legal concept. 所谓确认偏误，就是人们更容易注意到支持既有看法的信息。 Suǒwèi quèrèn piānwù, jiùshì rénmen gèng róngyì zhùyì dào zhīchí jìyǒu kànfǎ de xìnxī. Confirmation bias is the tendency for people to notice information that supports views they already hold. The second part describes a recognizable feature of the named concept. 所谓社会资本，就是人际关系中能够带来合作机会的资源。 Suǒwèi shèhuì zīběn, jiùshì rénjì guānxì zhōng nénggòu dàilái hézuò jīhuì de zīyuán. Social capital is the resource in interpersonal relationships that can create opportunities for cooperation. This gives a practical description rather than claiming to be the only possible definition. 所谓实质性协商，就是各方都能提出理由，并根据讨论调整方案。 Suǒwèi shízhìxìng xiéshāng, jiùshì gèfāng dōu néng tíchū lǐyóu, bìng gēnjù tǎolùn tiáozhěng fāng'àn. Substantive consultation means that all parties can put forward reasons and adjust the proposal in response to the discussion. The explanation clarifies what meaningful consultation involves in this context. ## Tone, questions, and useful contrasts In a neutral explanatory statement, 所谓……，就是…… sounds organized and explicit. It is especially useful when a speaker is introducing a concept for discussion or clarifying how a term is being used. However, 所谓 can also sound skeptical or dismissive in some contexts, particularly when the speaker signals doubt about a label or claim. The pattern alone does not guarantee a neutral tone: context and delivery matter. To ask directly what a term means, use a question such as 所谓 X 是什么意思？ To question a proposed explanation, use 所谓成功，就是收入高吗？ (“Does success mean having a high income?”). Here 吗 makes it a question checking the definition; it does not assert that income alone defines success. Simply adding 所谓 does not make a sentence interrogative. - Compared with X 就是 Y, the longer pattern explicitly frames X as a term or idea being introduced for explanation. The shorter form can state an equivalence or identification without that framing. - Compared with 也就是说, which often paraphrases or restates something already said, 所谓……，就是…… commonly introduces the expression or concept before explaining it. - 所谓 may introduce a label without endorsing it. Whether the speaker approves of the label depends on the surrounding context; do not infer criticism from the pattern alone. Before using the pattern, check that the first part names something your reader may need explained and that the second part actually clarifies it. If you only want to restate a previous sentence, a paraphrase marker may fit better. ## A practical way to build a sentence - Identify the expression, concept, or practice that needs clarification. - Put it after 所谓. - Write an explanation after 就是 that adds meaning or a defining detail. - Read the sentence in context to check that its tone is appropriate and its explanation is accurate. For example, when discussing whether consultation is meaningful, the final example defines it through participants’ ability to give reasons and revise a proposal. That detail makes the explanation more informative than simply labeling a process “consultation.” Apply the same test to your own sentences: the second part should help a reader understand the first. ## Frequently asked questions **Does the first part have to be one word?** No. It can be a word, a named concept, or a longer phrase. Make sure the full expression is the thing explained by the second part. **Does 所谓 always express doubt?** No. It can introduce a term neutrally. In some contexts it sounds skeptical or dismissive, so use the surrounding sentence and situation to judge the tone. **Can this pattern be used in a question?** Yes, a speaker can use it while checking or discussing an explanation, but the pattern most commonly introduces a statement. Use question wording and punctuation when the sentence is actually asking something. **Source**[hsk.cn-bj.ufileos.com · PDF page 406](https://hsk.cn-bj.ufileos.com/3.0/%E6%96%B0%E7%89%88HSK%E8%80%83%E8%AF%95%E5%A4%A7%E7%BA%B21219.pdf#page=406) ## Continue in the app Full mock exams are available in HSKReady. [![Download on the App Store](https://hskready.app/download-on-app-store-black.svg)Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6791916440?l=en)[![Get it on Google Play](https://hskready.app/get-it-on-google-play.svg)Get it on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.curiolab.hskready&hl=en) [HSKReady App](https://hskready.app/en/app)