（可是）話說回來grammar point · tier 1 · 話說回來 but then again / that said (the talk turns back to the other side)
After granting one line of thought, turns the talk back to raise a balancing or contrary consideration on the other side.
字源 FORM what the parts do
話 is words (言) spoken; 說 lays them open, 兌 on loan for the sound. Together 話說 is the talk in motion. 回 is a swirl drawn whole, water curling back over its own track. 來 is the wheat graph long ago borrowed to write 'come', lending its come-this-way pull. 回來 sends the talk circling back the way it went out, and brings back the side that was set against the first.
故事 STORY a scene to remember it by
An eddy carries the leaf out one way; the water curls and the leaf rides back round — and lands facing the opposite bank.
字源記憶法
框 · Frame
[one view stated]，（可是）話說回來，[the other side that balances it]
觸 · Trigger
You have just granted one point and want to swing the talk back to the offsetting side.
序 · The move
1state the first side fully and let it standis there a real point already on the table to turn back from?
2drop in 話說回來 (often after 可是) to mark the turnam I about to add the OTHER side, not just continue the same one?
3give the balancing consideration that offsets the firstdoes what follows pull against the first side, so the two together weigh up?
例 · Examples
1人與人相處to get along (with each other)的確indeed; truly是一件困難的事情，可是話說回來but then again; that said，只要真誠sincere就可以交到to make (friends); to succeed in befriending好朋友。
Getting along with people really is a hard thing; but then again, as long as you're sincere you can make good friends.
界 · Boundary
可是／但是
可是 alone simply cancels or overrides the first clause — the second wins. 話說回來 does not cancel the first; it sets a second consideration beside it so the two balance. 可是 picks a side; 話說回來 weighs both.
說到底
說到底 drives down to the bottom-line point that settles the matter. 話說回來 swings out to the other side to keep the matter open. 說到底 closes; 話說回來 balances.
言歸正傳
言歸正傳 drops a digression and returns to the main topic. 話說回來 stays on topic and returns to the other half of it. One leaves a tangent; the other supplies a counterweight.
今天很累，話說回來我要睡了 (continuing the same side, no turn) → 今天很累，可是話說回來，睡一覺就好了
話說回來，這家店真的很好吃 (no first side to turn back from) → 這家店有點貴，話說回來，東西真的很好吃
話說回來他根本不對 (used to cancel, like 可是) → 他這樣做不對，可是話說回來，他也是為了大家
English 'but then again / that said' can open a sentence with nothing granted before it; learners reach for 話說回來 with no first side on the table, or use it where plain 可是 (a clean override) is meant.