Reformulating with 就是说 in Chinese
就是说 / 这就是说
就是说 and 这就是说 introduce a reformulation, explanation, or consequence that makes the preceding statement easier to understand. The following clause states what the earlier information means in practical terms. The marker is common in speech and explanatory prose, but it should not be used when the second clause merely changes topic.
Published July 31, 2026
Reviewed July 31, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation
Read the structure
就是说 and 这就是说 introduce a reformulation, explanation, or consequence that makes the preceding statement easier to understand. The following clause states what the earlier information means in practical terms. The marker is common in speech and explanatory prose, but it should not be used when the second clause merely changes topic. Keep the model Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation visible while you compare each sentence.
责任不在你，就是说，你不用怪自己。
The responsibility is not yours; that is, you do not need to blame yourself.
Choose the right context
Restate an idea in clearer words. Explain the practical meaning of a previous statement. Draw an immediate explanatory consequence from the preceding information.
今天不开门，这就是说，我们得明天再来。
It is closed today, which means we must return tomorrow.
Respect the boundary
Do not reverse the fixed order 就是说. Do not split 这就是说 into unrelated words. Do not use the marker before a second clause that has no explanatory link to the first.
责任不在你，这说就是，你不用怪自己。
(The responsibility is not yours, this says is, you need not blame yourself.)
Repair the pattern
The fixed sequence is reversed: The explanatory marker has the fixed order 这 + 就是说. 就是说 is split into two reordered pieces: The marker must remain the intact unit 这就是说 before the explanatory clause.
责任不在你，这就是说，你不用怪自己。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
责任不在你，就是说，你不用怪自己。
The responsibility is not yours; that is, you do not need to blame yourself.
责任
Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation
This part occupies the Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation position in the model pattern.
不在
Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation
This part occupies the Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation position in the model pattern.
你
Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation
This part occupies the Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation position in the model pattern.
，
Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation
This part occupies the Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation position in the model pattern.
就是
Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation
This part occupies the Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation position in the model pattern.
说
Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation
This part occupies the Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation position in the model pattern.
，
Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation
This part occupies the Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation position in the model pattern.
你
Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation
This part occupies the Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation position in the model pattern.
不用
Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation
This part occupies the Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation position in the model pattern.
怪
Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation
This part occupies the Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation position in the model pattern.
自己
Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation
This part occupies the Statement 1，就是说 / 这就是说，Explanation or Reformulation position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
责任不在你，就是说，你不用怪自己。
The responsibility is not yours; that is, you do not need to blame yourself.
今天不开门，这就是说，我们得明天再来。
It is closed today, which means we must return tomorrow.
他已经同意了。就是说，计划可以开始了。
He has agreed. In other words, the plan can begin.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Restate an idea in clearer words.
- Explain the practical meaning of a previous statement.
- Draw an immediate explanatory consequence from the preceding information.
Do not use it when
- Do not reverse the fixed order 就是说.
- Do not split 这就是说 into unrelated words.
- Do not use the marker before a second clause that has no explanatory link to the first.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
责任不在你，这说就是，你不用怪自己。
责任不在你，这就是说，你不用怪自己。
The fixed sequence is reversed
The explanatory marker has the fixed order 这 + 就是说.
今天不开门，就是，这说我们得明天再来。
今天不开门，这就是说，我们得明天再来。
就是说 is split into two reordered pieces
The marker must remain the intact unit 这就是说 before the explanatory clause.
责任不在你，这说就是，你不用怪自己。
The explanatory marker has the fixed order 这 + 就是说.
今天不开门，就是，这说我们得明天再来。
The marker must remain the intact unit 这就是说 before the explanatory clause.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 就是说 / 这就是说.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 就是说 / 这就是说. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Reformulating with 就是说 Questions
How is 就是说 different from 总之?
就是说 reformulates or explains one idea, while 总之 summarizes prior material into an overall conclusion.
Can 就是说 begin a new sentence?
Yes. It can follow a full stop when the new sentence clearly reformulates the preceding statement.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 6 item 【六33】, PDF p. 237
Lists 就是说 and 这就是说 at Level 6 as explanatory fixed expressions.
Official source现代汉语构式数据库
北京大学中国语言学研究中心 · Peking University · 2021
Locator: Construction record 2522, 就是+说
Documents the explanatory meaning, proposition-introducing function, examples, and colloquial register.
Official source现代汉语语法课程讲义
包头师范学院 · 包头师范学院 · 2024
Locator: Course PDF pp. 57–58, explanatory complex sentences
Identifies 就是说 as a marker that introduces an explanatory second clause.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
也就是说也就是说: In Other Words
也就是说 adds an additive shade to the same core reformulation function of 就是说.
Compare
总而言之总而言之: In Short
Distinguish explaining one statement from summarizing a larger stretch of prior discourse.
Compare
总之总之 for Summarizing a Conclusion
就是说 reformulates meaning, while 总之 compresses preceding material into an overall conclusion.
Continue learning
话是这么说，不过…Concessive Qualification Formula
Continue from explanatory reformulation to acknowledging a statement before adding a reservation.
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Easy to confuse
也就是说 adds an additive shade to the same core reformulation function of 就是说.