字里行间 (zì lǐ háng jiān) — between the lines (the implied meaning or subtext of a written text)

Definition

Literary set phrase meaning 'between the lines' — refers to the hidden meaning, mood, or attitude that a writer implies rather than states outright.

noun
between the lines (the implied meaning or subtext of a written text)

Examples

  • 字里行间，。
    Cóng zhè fēng xìn de zì lǐ háng jiān, wǒ néng kàn chū tā hěn shī wàng.
    From between the lines of this letter, I can see he's very disappointed.
  • 字里行间。
    Tā de wén zhāng zì lǐ háng jiān liú lù chū duì gù xiāng de sī niàn.
    Between the lines of his article, a longing for his hometown is revealed.
  • 字里行间。
    Nǐ yào xué huì cóng zì lǐ háng jiān dú dǒng zuò zhě de zhēn shí yì tú.
    You need to learn to read the author's true intentions from between the lines.

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.

字里inside characters
字zìcharacter里lǐinside
偏正Modifier + head
行间between lines
行xíngline间jiānbetween
偏正Modifier + head

“字里” and “行间” both point to the spaces within written characters and lines, giving between the lines.

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →

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 裡; 里 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 里 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (里, 里面) it is 裡; in others (公里) it is 里 or 裏.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ裡lǐ
Same sound today

The form 裡 pairs 衤 (clothes) with 里 as a sound component.

Open 里 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 彳彳chì
  • 亍亍chù

The shape of 行 originally showed a street intersection, even on both sides. Later it became uneven, with 彳 on the left and 亍 on the right.

Open 行 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 间 →

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