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Level Proficient Chinese · HSK 7–9

Arguing in Writing: 与其说…不如说, 诚然, 究其原因, 综上所述 and Hedging

The Chinese argumentative essay (议论文, yìlùnwén) has a recognisable shape: a thesis (论点), evidence (论据) and a conclusion, held together by a set of formulas. Knowing those formulas lets you read academic papers and editorials quickly and write a convincing argument of your own.

Reframing and conceding

与其说 A，不如说 B (yǔqí shuō A, bùrú shuō B) means 'it's less A than B, it would be truer to say B': 与其说他是老师，不如说他是朋友. Unlike 与其…不如 (a choice between actions, C1), this one is about how to describe something; you met it briefly in the C1 与其 lesson, and at C2 it becomes a standard tool for correcting a label in an argument.

诚然 (chéngrán) concedes a point before countering it, like a formal 固然: 诚然，…，但是…. 不可否认 (bùkě fǒurèn, it's undeniable that) and 尽管如此 (jǐnguǎn rúcǐ, even so) serve the same structure.

  • 与其说这是一次失败，不如说这是一次宝贵的经验。

    Yǔqí shuō zhè shì yí cì shībài, bùrú shuō zhè shì yí cì bǎoguì de jīngyàn.

    It's less a failure than a valuable experience.

  • 诚然，科技给生活带来了便利，但也带来了新的问题。

    Chéngrán, kējì gěi shēnghuó dàiláile biànlì, dàn yě dàiláile xīn de wèntí.

    Technology has, admittedly, made life more convenient, but it has also brought new problems.

Causes, definitions and hedging

究其原因 (jiū qí yuányīn, if we look into the reasons) and 归根到底 (guī gēn dào dǐ, in the final analysis) introduce causal analysis. 所谓 A，是指 B (what is called A refers to B), 简称 (abbreviated as) and 定义为 (defined as) introduce terms.

Hedging: 或许 (perhaps), 在一定程度上 (to a certain extent), 有待 (yǒudài, remains to be): 有待进一步研究 (requires further research). Certainty: 显然 (clearly), 毋庸置疑 (wúyōng zhìyí, beyond doubt). Citing: 据…研究, 正如…所言 (as … said).

  • 究其原因，主要是缺乏有效的管理。

    Jiū qí yuányīn, zhǔyào shì quēfá yǒuxiào de guǎnlǐ.

    If we look into the reasons, it is mainly a lack of effective management.

  • 这一结论在一定程度上仍有待验证。

    Zhè yì jiélùn zài yídìng chéngdù shang réng yǒudài yànzhèng.

    To some extent, this conclusion still remains to be verified.

  • 正如鲁迅所说，地上本没有路，走的人多了，也便成了路。

    Zhèngrú Lǔ Xùn suǒ shuō, dì shang běn méiyǒu lù, zǒu de rén duō le, yě biàn chéngle lù.

    As Lu Xun said, there was no road on the ground to begin with; when enough people walk a way, it becomes a road.

Rebutting and concluding

To disagree politely in writing: 此说法值得商榷 (this view is open to debate), 这种观点忽略了… (this view overlooks…). Avoid blunt 这是错的 in academic prose.

To conclude: 由此可见 (from this it can be seen), 综上所述 (zōngshàng suǒ shù, to sum up the above), 总而言之 (in short), 因此我们认为… (we therefore conclude…). 综上所述 belongs at the start of the conclusion, after the evidence: it sums up what has already been said.

  • 综上所述，保护环境需要每个人的参与。

    Zōngshàng suǒ shù, bǎohù huánjìng xūyào měi ge rén de cānyù.

    To sum up, protecting the environment requires everyone's participation.

  • 笔者认为，这一说法值得商榷。

    Bǐzhě rènwéi, zhè yì shuōfǎ zhíde shāngquè.

    The present writer believes this claim is open to question.

Common mistakes

  • ✗与其说他是老师，不如他是朋友。

    ✓与其说他是老师，不如说他是朋友。

    Yǔqí shuō tā shì lǎoshī, bùrú shuō tā shì péngyou.

    Both halves take 说: 与其说…不如说.

  • ✗综上所述，我先谈谈第一个原因。

    ✓首先，我想谈谈第一个原因。

    Shǒuxiān, wǒ xiǎng tántan dì yī ge yuányīn.

    综上所述 means 'to sum up the above' and belongs at the end. Use 首先 to start.

  • ✗我认为毋庸置疑这可能是对的。

    ✓这在一定程度上可能是对的。

    Zhè zài yídìng chéngdù shang kěnéng shì duì de.

    毋庸置疑 (beyond doubt) and 可能 (possibly) contradict each other. Hedge or assert, not both.

Questions learners ask

Why do Chinese writers call themselves 笔者?

笔者 (the writer) is a modest, impersonal 'I' in academic and journalistic writing, much like 'the present author'.

Is the Chinese essay structure different from the English one?

The core (thesis, evidence, conclusion) is the same. Chinese essays tend to open with a broader framing, quote proverbs or classical lines as evidence, and close with a call to action.

Practice this in lessons

The Proficient Chinese lessons teach this step by step, with exercises and review built in.

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