伶牙俐齿 (líng yá lì chǐ) — (idiom) clever and eloquent; having the gift of the gab; sharp-tongued in a good way

Definition

Idiom praising someone who speaks cleverly and persuasively — 'sharp-tongued in a good way.' Often implies skillful argumentation or quick, articulate speech, not blunt talk.

idiom
clever and eloquenthaving the gift of the gabsharp-tongued in a good way

Examples

  • 伶牙俐齿，。
    Tā zhēn shì gè líng yá lì chǐ de nǚ hái, měi cì dá biàn dōu ràng lǎo shī wú huà kě shuō.
    She's really a sharp-tongued girl — every time she defends her thesis she leaves the teacher speechless.
  • 伶牙俐齿，。
    Zuò xiāo shòu jiù dé líng yá lì chǐ, cái néng shuō fú kè hù qiān hé tong.
    To be in sales you need to be eloquent, so you can persuade clients to sign contracts.
  • 伶牙俐齿，。
    Suī rán wǒ suàn bú shàng líng yá lì chǐ, dàn wǒ yě néng bǎ dào lǐ jiǎng qīng chǔ.
    Although I'm not particularly eloquent, I can still explain the reasoning clearly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

伶牙clever teeth
伶língclever牙yátooth
偏正Modifier + head
俐齿clever teeth
俐lìclever齿chǐtooth
偏正Modifier + head

The parts 伶牙 and 俐齿 suggest clever, sharp teeth, hence fluent speech.

Characters in this word

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
人人rénman; person
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng伶líng
Same sound today

The left part 人 shows a person, while the right part 令 gives the character 伶 its sound.

Open 伶 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 牙 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 齒; 齿 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 齒 originally drew a mouth full of teeth, and later gained a part that gives a clue to its sound. The simplified 齿 is a later shorthand.

Open 齿 →

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