说…也不为过
it is no exaggeration to say …; … can hardly be overstated
Structure
说／称 ＋ 强烈的判断 ， （一点儿） 也不为过 · 怎么 ＋ 动词 ＋ 都不为过
What it means
Makes a bold claim, then defends it: “it is no exaggeration to say …”. 为过 (wéi guò) is literary for “going too far”.
How it is built
说/称…为…/把…比作… + strong claim, + (一点儿)也不为过: 说青霉素改变了人类的命运，也不为过 (It’s no exaggeration to say penicillin changed humanity’s fate).
When to use it
Commentary, features, speeches. 怎么强调都不为过 is a stock phrase: “cannot be stressed enough”. In conversation say 一点儿也不夸张 or 一点儿也不过分.
Watch out
Keep the negative: ✗也为过. Keep it for claims that sound extreme; a plain fact needs no defence: ✗说今天是星期一也不为过.
Examples
说青霉素改变了人类的命运，也不为过。
It is no exaggeration to say that penicillin changed the fate of humankind.
勤洗手的重要性，怎么强调都不为过。
The importance of washing your hands often cannot be stressed enough.
称他为这座城市的“活地图”，一点儿也不为过。
To call him the city’s “living map” is no exaggeration at all.
Learn this in Lesson 155 · HSK 7–9: 吊瓶大国 (A nation of IV drips)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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