说白了，…
to put it plainly; in plain words; when you come down to it
Structure
（前文的解释） ， 说白了 ， 直截了当的结论
What it means
Strips away polite or technical wording and states the bare point: 'to put it plainly', 'when you come down to it'.
How it is built
Explanation + ，说白了， + blunt conclusion, often with 就是 or 不是…而是…: 他天天说忙，说白了就是不想来 (He keeps saying he's busy; plainly, he just doesn't want to come).
When to use it
Spoken in origin but at home in columns, explainers and talk shows. 说到底 points to the root cause; 简单地说 (in short) is neutral. 说白了 can sound blunt, so in formal speech or to a superior prefer 简单地说 or 换句话说.
Watch out
Don't confuse it with 白说 (to say something in vain): 我说了也是白说 (It was no use my saying it). 说白了 sums up the point; 白说 means the words were wasted.
Examples
说白了，可怕的不是病毒本身，而是对它一无所知，以及由此而来的偏见。
To put it plainly, what is frightening is not the virus itself but knowing nothing about it, and the prejudice that comes of that.
这些理财产品名字起得很好听，说白了，就是把钱借给别人，风险很高。
These investment products have fine-sounding names, but in plain words you are lending your money to someone else, and the risk is high.
他天天说忙，说白了就是不想来。
He keeps saying he is busy; the truth is, he just doesn’t want to come.
Learn this in Lesson 160 · HSK 7–9: 艾滋病：检测与偏见 (HIV: testing and prejudice)
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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