泛泛而谈 (fàn fàn ér tán) — to talk in generalities; to speak superficially without details

Definition

A chengyu meaning to discuss a topic in vague generalities, with no real depth or specifics. It is almost always used with a negative or critical tone (不要泛泛而谈, 解决不了问题).

idiom
to talk in generalitiesto speak superficially without details

Examples

  • 泛泛而谈，。
    Tā zhī zài huì yì shàng fàn fàn ér tán, méi yǒu tí chū rèn hé jù tǐ fāng àn.
    He only spoke in generalities at the meeting and didn't propose any concrete plans.
  • 泛泛而谈。
    fàn fàn ér tán Jiě jué bù liǎo shí jì wèn tí.
    Talking in generalities won't solve practical problems.
  • ，泛泛而谈。
    Bào gào xiě dé tài kōng fàn, wán quán shì fàn fàn ér tán.
    The report was too vague — it was nothing but generalizations.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
乏
乏fá泛fàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

泛 pairs 氵 (water) with 乏, which gives the sound.

Open 泛 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
乏
乏fá泛fàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

泛 pairs 氵 (water) with 乏, which gives the sound.

Open 泛 →

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

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

Open 而 →

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 談; 谈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
炎
炎yán談tán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 谈, the traditional form 談 pairs 言 (speech) with 炎 (yán) as the sound part.

Open 谈 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.