潜台词 (qián tái cí) — subtext; implied meaning; unexpressed thoughts or intentions
Definition
潜台词 (qiántáicí) literally 'under-stage words' — the meaning hinted at but not said out loud, in conversation, writing, or film. Often carries a speaker's real attitude, especially when it differs from their literal words.
noun
subtextimplied meaningunexpressed thoughts or intentions
Examples
- 潜台词。Tā zǒng shì tīng bù chū bié rén huà lǐ de qián tái cí.He always fails to pick up on the subtext in other people's words.
- 潜台词，。Zhè bù diàn yǐng de qián tái cí hěn shēn, hěn duō rén dōu méi kàn dǒng.The subtext of this movie is very deep; many people didn't understand it.
- ，潜台词。Tā zuǐ shàng shuō tóng yì, dàn qián tái cí lǐ hái shì fǎn duì.He verbally agrees, but his subtext is still opposed.
Appears in
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