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满嘴 (mǎn zuǐ) — (noun) a mouthful (of food or drink); (idiomatic) full of (a particular kind of speech, often negative)

Definition

Used with 谎言, 脏话, etc. to mean a mouth 'full of' some kind of speech — usually criticism or lies. Literally 'full mouth', not the eating sense of 'a mouthful'.

noun
a mouthful (of food or drink)(idiomatic) full of (a particular kind of speech, often negative)

Examples

  • 满嘴。
    Tā mǎn zuǐ dōu shì miàn bāo.
    His mouth is full of bread.
  • 满嘴。
    Tā zǒng shì mǎn zuǐ huǎng yán.
    He's always full of lies.
  • 满嘴，。
    Nà ge nán rén mǎn zuǐ zāng huà, hěn bù wén míng.
    That man is full of swear words—very uncivilized.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

满mǎnfull
嘴zuǐmouth

The idea of 满 (full) with 嘴 (mouth) gives a mouthful.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 滿; 满 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㒼
㒼㒼滿mǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 滿 pairs 水, showing water, with 㒼, giving the sound. The simplified 满 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

Open 满 →

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
觜
觜zī嘴
Same sound today

嘴 pairs 口 (mouth) with 觜, which supplies its sound.

Open 嘴 →
Appears in
Body Parts

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