说服 (shuōfú)

说服 means to use words and reasoning to change someone's mind or win their agreement, and is one of the most important verbs for describing communication and influence in Chinese.

Meanings

[verb] to persuade; to convince; to talk someone into something

Example Sentences

他花了很长时间才说服父母同意他出国留学。 Tā huā le hěn cháng shíjiān cái shuōfú fùmǔ tóngyì tā chūguó liúxué. It took him a long time to persuade his parents to agree to his studying abroad.

演讲者用有力的论据说服了在场的听众。 Yǎnjiǎng zhě yòng yǒulì de lùnjù shuōfú le zàichǎng de tīngzhòng. The speaker convinced the audience present with strong arguments.

这个理由还不足以说服我改变想法。 Zhège lǐyóu hái bù zúyǐ shuōfú wǒ gǎibiàn xiǎngfǎ. This reason is not sufficient to convince me to change my mind.

她的真诚最终说服了委员会接受这个方案。 Tā de zhēnchéng zuìzhōng shuōfú le wěiyuánhuì jiēshòu zhège fāng'àn. Her sincerity ultimately persuaded the committee to accept this proposal.

事实胜于雄辩，证据比言语更能说服人。 Shìshí shèngyú xióngbiàn, zhèngjù bǐ yányǔ gèng néng shuōfú rén. Facts speak louder than eloquence; evidence is more persuasive than words.

我试图说服他放弃这个危险的计划，但没有成功。 Wǒ shìtú shuōfú tā fàngqì zhège wēixiǎn de jìhuà, dàn méiyǒu chénggōng. I tried to persuade him to give up this dangerous plan, but without success.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
说服力 (shuōfú lì)	persuasiveness; persuasive power
难以说服 (nányǐ shuōfú)	hard to convince
试图说服 (shìtú shuōfú)	to try to persuade
说服他人 (shuōfú tārén)	to persuade others
有说服力 (yǒu shuōfú lì)	persuasive

Usage Notes

说服 is a resultative verb compound: 说 (to speak) + 服 (to submit/be convinced). Because 服 implies the result of being won over, 说服 inherently means to successfully persuade. If the attempt fails, you would say 没能说服 (failed to persuade) or 试图说服 (tried to persuade).

The derived noun 说服力 (persuasive power) is very useful: 这个论点很有说服力 (this argument is very persuasive).

Memory Hook

说 (to speak) + 服 (to submit/comply): speaking until someone submits and complies -- to persuade.