Source
r/ChineseLanguage•
imd

What does 說出去 mean?

It occurs in this passage:

我請你們吃蛋糕，三角形的，特別好吃。不過你們不要說出去喲。

I can give more context if it's helpful.

Posted Mar 29, 2016, 8:31 AM UTC

611
[deleted]•

it means "tell others" or simply "tell it out". if someone told you to not 说出去, you keep it secret.

6
imdOP•

Thanks. What kinds of meanings does 出去 have on other verbs?

1
rtyuuytr•

Just 'out', it is basically verb + 出 + situationally optional 去. I'm not quite sure how to explain 去.

赶出去 - chase out

吐出去 - spit out

跑出去 - run out (like physical exit, not running out of food)

1
imdOP•

Then, what's the difference between 說出去 and 說出來?

2
rtyuuytr•

說出來 is more like speak out to me (tell me). Lai is toward.

說出去 - speak out (to others). See that qu is out.

1
mccrazy1797•

Here's a pretty good write-up on directional complements:

http://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/chinese-directional-complements-one/

http://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/chinese-directional-complements-part-two/

1
imdOP•

While that's a good introduction to the concept of directional compliments, it isn't very advanced. For example,

to come out (出来 – chū lái) = Your friend is still in their room and you want to leave soon. to go out (出去 – chū qù) = It’s boring sitting around the house when it’s such a nice day.

that's well and good, but when 出 is also part of the compliment, the meaning is not so simple, or so it seems to me.

1
rtyuuytr•

I'm treating you guys to cake, triangular and delicious, but don't tell others about this.

5
imdOP•

Thanks. What kinds of meanings does 出去 have on other verbs?

1
fifi12•

告诉别人 tell someone else.

1
[deleted]•

[removed]

1