温文尔雅 (wēn wén ěr yā) — gentle, refined, and well-mannered (of a person's temperament or demeanor)
Definition
A chengyu describing someone whose temperament and manners are gentle, cultivated, and elegant. Used as praise for a person's bearing — stronger and more literary than a plain word like 礼貌.
idiom
gentlerefinedand well-mannered (of a person's temperament or demeanor)
Examples
- 温文尔雅，。Zhè wèi jiào shòu shuō huà wēn wén ěr yā, ràng rén gǎn jué hěn shū fu.This professor speaks gently and elegantly, making people feel very comfortable.
- 温文尔雅，。Tā jǔ zhǐ wēn wén ěr yā, yí kàn jiù zhī dào shòu guò liáng hǎo de jiào yù.His manners are refined and graceful — you can tell at a glance that he has received a good education.
- ，温文尔雅，。Suī rán tā chū shēn píng fán, dàn qì zhì wēn wén ěr yā, hěn shòu rén zūn jìng.Although she comes from a humble background, her temperament is gentle and refined, and she is highly respected.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.