话又说回来
having said that; then again
Structure
观点 ， （不过／但／可是）话又说回来 ， 另一面
What it means
Having said that, then again: after making a point, you turn round and give the other side, usually to balance or soften it.
How it is built
Point，(不过／但／可是) 话又说回来，other side: 这家饭馆贵是贵了点，不过话又说回来，味道确实好 (It’s a bit pricey. Then again, the food really is good).
When to use it
Spoken, but common in chatty essays. 话说回来 is a shorter form. Compare 话是这么说, which answers someone else’s point rather than your own.
Watch out
The turn must be real: ✗他很聪明，话又说回来，他也很努力 (no contrast; use 而且). Not to be confused with 话说…, the storyteller’s “now, …”.
Examples
这家饭馆贵是贵了点，不过话又说回来，味道确实好。
This restaurant is a bit pricey. Then again, the food really is good.
他脾气是急了点。话又说回来，谁还没有个缺点呢？
He is a bit short-tempered. Having said that, who doesn’t have some fault or other?
话又说回来，要不是这些俗语“打架”，这顿饭也不会这么热闹。
Then again, if these sayings hadn’t been fighting, the meal wouldn’t have been so lively.
Learn this in Lesson 219 · HSK 9+: 俗语打架 (When proverbs disagree)
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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