含糊其辞 (hán hū) — to speak ambiguously; to equivocate; to be deliberately vague
Definition
A chengyu meaning to speak on purpose without committing — dodging the question rather than lying. Carries a critical tone, blaming the speaker for being evasive.
verb
to speak ambiguouslyto equivocateto be deliberately vague
Examples
- 含糊其辞，。Tā zài huí dá wèn tí shí zǒng shì hán hū, bù kěn shuō qīng chǔ.He always speaks ambiguously when answering questions and refuses to be clear.
- ，含糊其辞，。Jì zhě zhuī wèn le jǐ cì, tā hái shì hán hū, méi yǒu zhèng miàn huí yìng.The reporter pressed him several times, but he still equivocated and didn't respond directly.
- 含糊其辞。Zhè zhǒng hán hū de shuō fǎ ràng rén wú fǎ xiāng xìn.This kind of deliberately vague statement makes it impossible to trust.
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