Introducing a Frank Opinion with “tǎnshuài de shuō”
坦率地说
How it works
坦率地说 (tǎnshuài de shuō) means “frankly speaking,” “to be frank,” or “honestly speaking.” It is used when the speaker wants to introduce a direct opinion or evaluation and signal openness.
It often appears before statements that may sound blunt, sensitive, or especially honest.
Example sentences
坦率地说，这个方案目前的问题比优点更明显，我们不能急着通过。
Frankly, this proposal currently has more obvious problems than strengths, so we should not rush to approve it.
坦率地说，我对这次合作原本并没有太高的期待。
Frankly, I did not initially have high expectations for this collaboration.
坦率地说，如果不是你提醒我，我可能到现在还没意识到这个问题的严重性。
Frankly, if you had not reminded me, I might still not have realized how serious this problem is.
Key point
This expression sets the tone for candor. It often prepares the listener for a direct or possibly uncomfortable truth.