TongTong
Sign in

促膝长谈 (cù xī cháng tán) — to have an intimate, heart-to-heart talk (sitting knee to knee)

Definition

A chengyu meaning a long, intimate heart-to-heart talk between close friends or family — usually face-to-face and unhurried. It implies emotional closeness and depth, more than a casual chat.

verb
to have an intimateheart-to-heart talk (sitting knee to knee)

Examples

  • 促膝长谈，。
    Wǒ men zuó wǎn cù xī cháng tán, liáo dào le líng chén sān diǎn.
    We had a heart-to-heart talk last night and chatted until three in the morning.
  • ，促膝长谈。
    Lǎo péng you jiàn miàn, miǎn bù liǎo cù xī cháng tán yì fān.
    When old friends meet, they can't avoid having an intimate talk.
  • 促膝长谈，。
    Tā men zuò zài shā fā shàng cù xī cháng tán, fēn xiǎng bǐ cǐ de xīn shì.
    They sat on the sofa and had a heart-to-heart talk, sharing each other's worries.

Origin

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
足
足zú促cù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

促 pairs 亻 (person, written 人 when complete) with 足, which helps show its sound.

Open 促 →

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
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat, body
Sound part声符shēngfú
桼
桼qī膝xī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 膝, ⺼ is the body form of 肉, marking a body part, and 桼 gives the sound.

Open 膝 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

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 談; 谈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
炎
炎yán談tán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 谈, the traditional form 談 pairs 言 (speech) with 炎 (yán) as the sound part.

Open 谈 →
Appears in
Communication & SpeechIdioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.