含糊其词 (hán hú qí cí) — to equivocate, to speak evasively (idiom)

Definition

A formal idiom for deliberately speaking vaguely or dodging a direct answer. Carries a negative judgment: the speaker is being evasive on purpose, not just unclear.

idiom
to equivocateto speak evasively (idiom)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 含糊其词，。
    Tā huí dá wèn tí shí zǒng shì hán hú qí cí, bù kěn shuō qīng chǔ.
    He always equivocates when answering questions and refuses to be clear.
  • 含糊其词，。
    Lǎo bǎn duì jiā xīn de shì hán hú qí cí, yuán gōng dōu hěn shī wàng.
    The boss was evasive about the salary raise, and the employees were all disappointed.
  • 含糊其词，。
    Bié hán hú qí cí le, zhí jiē gào sù wǒ men nǐ de jué dìng ba.
    Stop equivocating and just tell us your decision directly.

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
今
今jīn含hán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

含 is built from 口 (mouth) and 今 (jīn). The 口 part is about the mouth, while 今 gives the sound.

Open 含 →

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
胡
胡hú糊hú
Same sound today

糊 pairs 米 (rice) with 胡 (hú), which gives the sound. The 米 part relates to the meaning.

Open 糊 →

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

The modern form 其 comes from an early drawing of a basket, with a stand added underneath.

Open 其 →

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 詞; 词 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
司
司sī詞cí(r)
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 詞 uses 言, meaning speech, and 司 to show how it was pronounced; the simplified 词 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical sound part.

Open 词 →

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