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模棱两可 (mó léng liǎng kě) — equivocal, ambiguous, not taking a clear stand

Definition

An idiom for an answer or attitude that refuses to commit to one side — 'equivocal, sitting on the fence'. More emphatic than 含糊, which only suggests vagueness.

idiom
equivocalambiguousnot taking a clear stand

Examples

  • 模棱两可，。
    Tā de huí dá hěn mó léng liǎng kě, ràng rén bù zhī dào tā dào dǐ zhī chí shuí.
    His answer was very equivocal, making people not know who he actually supports.
  • 模棱两可，。
    Lǎo bǎn de tài dù mó léng liǎng kě, bù kěn míng què biǎo shì shì fǒu tóng yì.
    The boss's attitude was ambiguous; he wouldn't clearly state whether he agreed.
  • ，模棱两可，。
    Zài huì yì shàng, tā de fā yán mó léng liǎng kě, méi yǒu gěi chū jù tǐ fāng àn.
    At the meeting, his speech was equivocal; he didn't put forward a concrete plan.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

模棱ambiguous
模mó棱léng
两可both acceptable
两liǎngboth可kěacceptable
主谓Subject + predicate

模棱 conveys ambiguity and 两可 says both sides are acceptable, together meaning equivocal.

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
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
莫
莫mò模mó
Same sound today

The left part 木 is tree; the right part 莫 gives the sound.

Open 模 →

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mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
夌
夌líng棱léng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

棱 pairs 木, a tree/wood shape, with 夌, which gives the sound.

Open 棱 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

Open 两 →

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kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →
Appears in
Attitudes & OpinionsIdioms & Set Phrases

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