有板有眼 (yǒu bǎn yǒu yǎn) — methodical and orderly; systematic; well-paced

Definition

Chengyu for doing something in a measured, well-paced way — every step in order, no rushing. Often praises someone's speech or work as clear and systematic.

idiom
methodical and orderlysystematicwell-paced

Examples

  • 有板有眼，。
    Tā shuō huà yǒu bǎn yǒu yǎn, tiáo lǐ fēi cháng qīng chǔ.
    He speaks methodically and with very clear logic.
  • 有板有眼，。
    Zhè ge jì huà zuò dé yǒu bǎn yǒu yǎn, měi yí bù dōu kǎo lǜ dào le.
    This plan was made very systematically, with every step taken into account.
  • 有板有眼，。
    Lǎo zhāng zuò shì yǒu bǎn yǒu yǎn, cóng lái bù huāng bù máng.
    Old Zhang does everything methodically and never rushes.

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.

有板have beat
有yǒuhave板bǎnbeat
动宾Verb + object
有眼have offbeat
有yǒuhave眼yǎnoffbeat
动宾Verb + object

有 means having, 板 and 眼 are beats in music; having both makes something well-paced and orderly.

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
反
反fǎn板bǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

板 pairs 木 (tree) with 反 as a sound part.

Open 板 →

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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
目目mùeye
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn眼yǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

眼 combines 目, which is an eye, with 艮, which gives the character's sound.

Open 眼 →

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