（不过）话又说回来
having said that; then again
Structure
观点 A 。 （不过）话又说回来 ， 观点 B
What it means
Having said that; then again. After making one point, the speaker turns to weigh the other side: the first point still stands, but something is set against it.
How it is built
Point A。（不过／但是）话又说回来，point B: 这家店的菜确实贵了一点。不过话又说回来，用的都是好材料 (It’s a bit pricey, it’s true. Then again, they use good ingredients).
When to use it
It opens a new sentence or clause, with a comma after it. Common in conversation, columns and comment pieces. Unlike 再说, which adds a further reason on the same side, it turns to the opposite consideration.
Watch out
It balances two considerations, not just two contrasting facts: ✗ 他很高，话又说回来他很瘦. Use it when B tempers the judgement in A, such as sympathy after criticism.
Examples
这家店的菜确实贵了一点。不过话又说回来，用的都是好材料。
The food here is a bit pricey, it’s true. Then again, they only use good ingredients.
他这次考得不好，该批评。话又说回来，他最近家里出了事，也不容易。
He did badly in the exam this time and deserves to be told off. Having said that, things have been hard at home lately; it hasn’t been easy for him.
家族DNA排查确实帮警方侦破了不少命案。话又说回来，它也引发了关于隐私的争议。
Family DNA searching has certainly helped police solve many cases. Then again, it has also stirred up a debate about privacy.
Learn this in Lesson 194 · HSK 7–9: 二十八年后破案 (Solved after twenty-eight years)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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