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交头接耳 (jiāo tóu jiē ěr) — to whisper to each other; to exchange whispers (often secretly or furtively)

Definition

A chengyu describing people whispering or talking quietly head-to-head — usually secretive. Suggests private chatter in a group setting where it is inappropriate (e.g., during a meeting).

phrase
to whisper to each otherto exchange whispers (often secretly or furtively)

Examples

  • 交头接耳，。
    Tā men liǎng gè rén zuò zài jiǎo luò lǐ jiāo tóu jiē ěr, hǎo xiàng zài shuō shén me mì mì.
    The two of them sat in the corner whispering, as if talking about some secret.
  • ，交头接耳。
    Kāi huì de shí hou, bú yào zài xià miàn jiāo tóu jiē ěr.
    During the meeting, don't whisper down there.
  • ，交头接耳。
    Lǎo shī yí jìn lái, dà jiā jiù lì kè tíng zhǐ le jiāo tóu jiē ěr.
    As soon as the teacher came in, everyone immediately stopped whispering.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

交头bring heads together
交jiāoexchange头tóuhead
动宾Verb + object
接耳join ears
接jiējoin耳ěrear
动宾Verb + object

Heads and ears are brought close together, picturing people whispering secretly.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

交 originally drew a human with crossed legs. In the modern shape, the upper part resembles a standing person.

Open 交 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頭; 头 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu頭tóu
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 頭 shows 頁, meaning head, beside 豆 as a sound component; the simplified 头 is a later shorthand.

Open 头 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
妾
妾qiè接jiē
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 扌 shows a hand, matching the sense of receiving something in the hand, while 妾 gives the character its sound.

Open 接 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

耳 is drawn as a picture of an ear.

Open 耳 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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