也就是说: In Other Words in Chinese
也就是说
也就是说 introduces a restatement, clarification, or immediate inference from the previous statement: ‘that is to say’ or ‘in other words.’ It stands before the reformulated proposition. The second clause must preserve or clarify the first clause's meaning rather than add an unrelated fact, and the connector cannot remain sentence-final.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Statement A, 也就是说 + Restatement B
Read the structure
也就是说 introduces a restatement, clarification, or immediate inference from the previous statement: ‘that is to say’ or ‘in other words.’ It stands before the reformulated proposition. The second clause must preserve or clarify the first clause's meaning rather than add an unrelated fact, and the connector cannot remain sentence-final. Keep the model Statement A, 也就是说 + Restatement B visible while you compare each sentence.
会议改到周五，也就是说我们多了两天准备时间。
The meeting was moved to Friday; that means we have two more days to prepare.
Choose the right context
Restate an idea in clearer words. Draw an immediate equivalent implication. Explain what a preceding decision means in practice.
他拒绝签字，也就是说谈判失败了。
He refused to sign; in other words, the negotiation failed.
Respect the boundary
Do not leave the restatement missing. Do not use it to add an unrelated fact. Do not place it after the reformulated clause.
明天停课，也就是说。
(Classes are canceled tomorrow, in other words.)
Repair the pattern
The restatement is missing: 也就是说 must introduce the proposition that restates or explains the first statement. The connector follows its restatement: 也就是说 introduces the reformulation and must precede it.
明天停课，也就是说你不用来学校。
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.
会议改到周五，也就是说我们多了两天准备时间。
The meeting was moved to Friday; that means we have two more days to prepare.
会议
Statement A, 也就是说
This part occupies the Statement A, 也就是说 position in the model pattern.
改到
Restatement B
This part occupies the Restatement B position in the model pattern.
周五
Statement A, 也就是说
This part occupies the Statement A, 也就是说 position in the model pattern.
，
Restatement B
This part occupies the Restatement B position in the model pattern.
也就是说
Statement A, 也就是说
This part occupies the Statement A, 也就是说 position in the model pattern.
我们
Restatement B
This part occupies the Restatement B position in the model pattern.
多
Statement A, 也就是说
This part occupies the Statement A, 也就是说 position in the model pattern.
了
Restatement B
This part occupies the Restatement B position in the model pattern.
两
Statement A, 也就是说
This part occupies the Statement A, 也就是说 position in the model pattern.
天
Restatement B
This part occupies the Restatement B position in the model pattern.
准备
Statement A, 也就是说
This part occupies the Statement A, 也就是说 position in the model pattern.
时间
Restatement B
This part occupies the Restatement B 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.
会议改到周五，也就是说我们多了两天准备时间。
The meeting was moved to Friday; that means we have two more days to prepare.
他拒绝签字，也就是说谈判失败了。
He refused to sign; in other words, the negotiation failed.
明天停课，也就是说你不用来学校。
Classes are canceled tomorrow; that means you need not come to school.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Restate an idea in clearer words.
- Draw an immediate equivalent implication.
- Explain what a preceding decision means in practice.
Do not use it when
- Do not leave the restatement missing.
- Do not use it to add an unrelated fact.
- Do not place it after the reformulated clause.
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.
明天停课，也就是说。
明天停课，也就是说你不用来学校。
The restatement is missing
也就是说 must introduce the proposition that restates or explains the first statement.
明天停课，你不用来学校也就是说。
明天停课，也就是说你不用来学校。
The connector follows its restatement
也就是说 introduces the reformulation and must precede it.
明天停课，也就是说。
也就是说 must introduce the proposition that restates or explains the first statement.
明天停课，你不用来学校也就是说。
也就是说 introduces the reformulation and must precede it.
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 也就是说.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 也就是说. 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
也就是说: In Other Words Questions
Must the second clause repeat the same words?
No. It should preserve, clarify, or state the practical implication of the first idea.
Can 也就是说 begin a new sentence?
Yes. It can open a follow-up sentence that explicitly 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: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, combined Levels 7–9 item 【七—九125】, ……，也就是说…… (printed p. 250)
Supports placement in the official combined Levels 7-9 band; the exact site level remains an internal difficulty label; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 25, §25.11.6, expressions meaning ‘in other words’ and discourse clarification
Treats 也就是说 as a discourse expression introducing a reformulation or clarification of prior information.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
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Compare this lesson with 话又说回来 returning to a balancing point in discussion; both belong to summary, reformulation, and return to the main point, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
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由此可见由此可见 (yóucǐ kějiàn)
Continue with the reviewed follow-up lesson to apply this pattern inside a broader, explicitly connected grammar construction.
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