TongTong
Sign in

脱口而出 (tuō kǒu ér chū) — to blurt out; to let slip (an indiscreet remark)

Definition

An involuntary verbal slip — words come out on their own, often impulsive or careless. 漏 is broader (leak a secret, miss a step); 放过 implies deliberately overlooking someone or something.

phrase
to blurt outto let slip (an indiscreet remark)

Examples

  • ，脱口而出。
    Tā tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, jī dòng dé tuō kǒu ér chū le xīn lǐ huà.
    When he heard the news, he was so excited that he blurted out what was on his mind.
  • ，脱口而出。
    Kāi huì shí tā yì shí chōng dòng, tuō kǒu ér chū le yí gè bù gāi shuō de shù zì.
    During the meeting, she impulsively blurted out a number she shouldn't have said.
  • ，脱口而出。
    Miàn shì qián duō zhǔn bèi, bié tuō kǒu ér chū bù hé shì de huí dá.
    Prepare well before an interview; don't blurt out an inappropriate answer.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 脫; 脱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròu
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì脫tuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 脫 puts ⺼ (meat) beside 兌, which gives the sound; the simplified 脱 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 脱 →

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

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Open 口 →

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 →

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

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Communication & SpeechIdioms & Set Phrases

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