said when you want to start speaking seriously about something after making jokes and laughing about it

言歸正傳，說正經(jīng)的

Joking apart, will you be able to manage on your own?

言歸正傳，你自己能應(yīng)付得了嗎?

I know I laugh at him but, joking aside, he's a very clever scientist.

我知道我經(jīng)常嘲笑他，但說正經(jīng)的，他是一個非常聰明的科學(xué)家。