Chinese Word for Discuss :  谈论(tánlùn) and  商量(shāngliang)

By Sujanti Djuanda – LingoLearn Chinese Teacher

I. 谈论(tánlùn=to discuss, to talk about) or 谈(tán=to discuss, to talk about) is used to give a spoken statement of an opinion or thought.

Example 1:

What are you (plural) discussing?

你们(nǐ​men)在(zài)谈论(tánlùn) or 谈(tán)什么(shénme)?

Example 2:

Boss Zhang and his staff are discussing job.

张(Zhāng)老板(lǎo​bǎn)与(yǔ)(or 和(hé) or 跟(gēn))员工(yuángōng)在(zài)谈论(tánlùn) or 谈(tán)工作(gōngzuò)。

Example 3:

We may discuss weather and climate.

我们(wǒ​men)可以(kě​yǐ)谈论(tánlùn) or 谈(tán)天气(tiānqì)和(hé)(or 跟(gēn))气候(qìhòu)。

Example 4:

I would like to discuss your older brother’s condition with you.

我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)跟(gēn)(or 和(hé))你(nǐ)谈论(tánlùn) or 谈(tán)一下(yī​xià)你哥哥(gē​ge)的(de)病情(bìngqíng)。

II. 商量(shāngliang=to discuss) needs an agreement/a conclusion

Example 1:

We are discussing where we want to go to have some fun this weekend. (needs an agreement)

我们(wǒmen)在(zài)商量(shāngliang)周末(zhōumò)要(yào)去(qù)哪里(nǎli)玩(wán)。

Compare with Example 2:

We are discussing where we want to have some fun this weekend. (doesn’t need an agreement)

我们(wǒmen)在(zài)讨论(tǎolùn)周末(zhōumò)要(yào)去(qù)哪里(nǎli)玩(wán)。

Compare with Example 3:

We are discussing where we want to have some fun this weekend. (just express opinions)

我们(wǒmen)在(zài)谈论(tánlùn)(or 谈(tán))周末(zhōumò)要(yào)去(qù)哪里(nǎli)玩(wán)。

Example 4:

I still want to discuss about this matter with my family. (needs an agreement)

这(zhè)件(jiàn)事(shì),我(wǒ)还(hái)要(yào)跟(gēn)(or 和(hé))家人(jiā​rén)商量(shāng​liang​)一下(yī​xià)。

Compare with Example 5:

I still want to discuss about this matter with my family. (doesn’t need an agreement)

这(zhè)件(jiàn)事(shì),我(wǒ)还(hái)要(yào)跟(gēn)(or 和(hé))家人(jiā​rén)讨论(tǎolùn)一下(yī​xià)。

Compare with Example 6:

I still want to discuss about this matter with my family. (just express opinions)

这(zhè)件(jiàn)事(shì),我(wǒ)还(hái)要(yào)跟(gēn)(or 和(hé))家人(jiā​rén)谈论(tán​lùn)(or 谈(tán)一下(yī​xià)。

Example 7:

We are discussing about buying house problems. (needs an agreement) 

我们(wǒmen)在(zài)商量(shāng​liang​)买(mǎi)房子(fáng​zi)的(de)事(shì)。

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