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HSK 7-9 Syntactic groups (syntactic group) syntactic group Four-character group

Four-character expressions - Again

四字格 — 话（又）说回来

Four-character expressions (four-character group) are frequent in written language and in a formal style. They condense an idea (often quasi-idiomatic).

Elements

Again

How to use it

  • Use Again as a fixed expression, without changing the character order.
  • Placement: place Again at the beginning of the sentence or in an incision, just before the idea you are commenting on.
  • Context: use this formula to introduce an opinion, a reaction, or a transition in a dialogue.
  • Start by memorizing the global meaning, then reuse the formula in complete sentences.
  • Memorize the usual variants (Again / Back Again), and choose a single form per sentence.
  • Start with a model sentence (In spoken language, often hear the phrase “Again”), then replace only the context (subject, time, situation).

Examples

在口语里，常听到“话说回来”这种说法。

zài kǒuyǔ lǐ， cháng tīng dào “ shuō huílái ” zhè zhǒng shuōfǎ。

In spoken language, often hear the phrase “Again”.

有些场合也会说“又说回来”。

yǒuxiē chǎng hé yě huì shuō “ yòu shuō huílái ”。

In some contexts, also use “Back Again”.

Notes and exceptions

  • Again — Past experience: Indicates that you have already experienced the action at least once.
  • Often incompatible with a precise duration related to the event that is a single point in time.

Common mistakes

  • Do not break the expression into isolated words: it functions as a block.
  • Avoid literal translation and learn the global meaning in context first.
  • When a variant is in parentheses, memorize the two possible forms without mixing them.
  • Reuse the formula in a complete sentence, not as a single word.

Practice quiz

Choose the best option for each sentence, then submit to view the correction.

1. Quel élément complète le mieux cette règle ?

(Use **Again** as a fixed expression, without changing the character order.)

2. Quel élément complète le mieux cette règle ?

(Placement: place **Again** at the beginning of the sentence or in an incision, just before the idea you are commenting on.)

3. Quel élément complète le mieux cette règle ?

(Context: use this formula to introduce an opinion, a reaction, or a transition in a dialogue.)

4. Quel élément complète le mieux cette règle ?

(Start by memorizing the global meaning, then reuse the formula in complete sentences.)