Meaning
说服 means to use reasoning, arguments, or evidence to change someone's mind or get them to agree with you. It implies a process of communication where you successfully bring someone around to your point of view or convince them to take a certain action.
Usage
说服 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. It often appears with the pattern '说服某人做某事' (to persuade someone to do something). Native speakers frequently use it when discussing negotiations, debates, or situations where changing someone's opinion is important. It carries a neutral to positive connotation, suggesting rational persuasion rather than manipulation.
Examples
- 01我花了很长时间才说服父母让我出国留学。.It took me a long time to persuade my parents to let me study abroad.
- 02他的理由很有说服力，最后大家都同意了他的建议。, .His reasons were very persuasive, and in the end everyone agreed with his suggestion.
Characters
Common collocations
- 说服力persuasive power, persuasiveness
- 说服某人做某事to persuade someone to do something
- 被说服to be persuaded
- 很难说服hard to persuade
Origin
The word combines 说 (to speak) with 服 (to submit/yield). The character 服 originally meant to submit or yield, so 说服 literally means 'to speak until someone yields' or 'to speak someone into submission through reason.'