可以说是...
Reach for this when you want to make a strong claim but soften it just enough to sound thoughtful rather than absolute — 'you could say it is...' or 'arguably it's...'. The 可以 ('can') gives the speaker plausible deniability; the 是 names what the subject is. Common in analysis, reviews, and conversational evaluation. Use it when you want a confident assessment that's labeled as one view rather than declared as fact.
Structure
[SUBJECT] 可以说是 [DESCRIPTION/CATEGORY]
kěyǐ shuō shì...
How to Think About It
可以说 = 'one could say.' Adding 是 turns it into a labeling claim — 'one could say [X] is [Y].' It's a politeness hedge for strong opinions: native speakers reach for it when they want to call something the best/worst/biggest/most important WITHOUT sounding like they're shutting down debate. Drop 可以说 and the claim becomes flat assertion; drop 是 and you've broken the structure.
Examples
这本书可以说是今年最好的小说。
Zhè běn shū kěyǐ shuō shì jīnnián zuì hǎo de xiǎoshuō.
This book is arguably the best novel of the year.
他可以说是我们班最聪明的人。
Tā kěyǐ shuō shì wǒmen bān zuì cōngmíng de rén.
He's arguably the smartest person in our class.
这次失败可以说是一个重要的教训。
Zhè cì shībài kěyǐ shuō shì yí ge zhòngyào de jiàoxun.
This failure could be called an important lesson.
可以说，他是这个时代最有影响力的导演。
Kěyǐ shuō, tā shì zhège shídài zuì yǒu yǐngxiǎnglì de dǎoyǎn.
You could say he's the most influential director of this era.
这次发布会可以说非常成功。
Zhè cì fābùhuì kěyǐ shuō fēicháng chénggōng.
This launch event was, you could say, a major success.
可以说，没有他就没有今天的公司。
Kěyǐ shuō, méiyǒu tā jiù méiyǒu jīntiān de gōngsī.
It's fair to say, without him there would be no company today.
Common Mistake
Learners use 可以说是 with a non-noun, like a verb phrase, mirroring English 'you could say he runs fast.' But 可以说是 expects a noun or adjective AFTER 是 — it's labeling. For 'you could say + clause,' use 可以说 alone.
他可以说是跑得很快。
他可以说是这里跑得最快的人。
Don't Confuse With
应该说
'It should be said' — more formal, more committed. Use 应该说 when you're stating something you believe is correct; 可以说是 when you're offering one fair characterization.
算是...
'Counts as' — pragmatic, low-key. Use 算是 for 'kind of qualifies as'; 可以说是 for a more emphatic labeling claim.
其实是...
'Actually is...' — used to correct a misconception. 可以说是 offers a perspective; 其实是 insists on the real truth.
可以...
Plain 可以 + verb = permission/ability ('can do X'). 可以说 + claim = 'one could say X' — a discourse hedge, not a statement of permission.
也就是说
也就是说 = 'in other words' — paraphrases the previous statement. 可以说 introduces a characterization or verdict, not a restatement.
Practice
这部电影 ____ 以说是今年最好的。
Show answer
可
他可以说 ____ 这里的专家。
Show answer
是
Arrange: 可以 / 说 / 是 / 一个奇迹 / 这
Show answer
这可以说是一个奇迹。
Translate: This city is arguably the most lively in the country.
Show answer
这个城市可以说是全国最热闹的。
Give a thoughtful evaluation of something using 可以说是.
Show answer
学中文可以说是我做过最有意思的决定。
___ 是今年最成功的电影了。
Hear It in Real Episodes
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 可以说是... in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start, no card.