据说
How to Understand
据说 (jù shuō) is an adverbial phrase used to introduce information that is not personally known but is reported or commonly believed. It is often used when the speaker is quoting someone else's statement or sharing a general belief.
The character 据 (jù) means 'based on' or 'according to,' and 说 (shuō) means 'to say.' Together, they form a phrase meaning 'it is said' or 'according to what is said,' indicating that the following information is not firsthand knowledge.
据说 is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to introduce rumors, common beliefs, or unverified information. It is especially useful in news reports, casual conversation, and storytelling. It can also be used humorously or sarcastically to question the reliability of the information being shared.