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自言自语 (zì yán zì yǔ) — to talk to oneself; to think aloud

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'to talk to oneself / think aloud.' The 自…自… pattern signals each person acts on themselves, so the speaker and listener are the same person.

phrase
to talk to oneselfto think aloud

Examples

  • ，自言自语。
    Tā yí gè rén zài jiā de shí hou, cháng cháng zì yán zì yǔ.
    He often talks to himself when he's alone at home.
  • 自言自语，。
    Zài jiē shàng kàn jiàn yǒu rén zì yán zì yǔ, bú yào jué de qí guài.
    Don't think it's strange if you see someone talking to themselves on the street.
  • 自言自语，。
    zì yán zì yǔ Qí shí shì hěn zhèng cháng de shì qing, měi gè rén dōu kě néng zhè yàng zuò.
    Talking to oneself is actually a normal thing; everyone may do it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

自言speak by oneself
自zìself言yánspeak
偏正Modifier + head
自语speak by oneself
自zìself语yǔspeak
偏正Modifier + head

自言 and 自语 combine: 自 “self”, 言 “speak”, 语 “speak”, giving talk to oneself.

Characters in this word

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The early form of 言 shows an opening and a mark indicating a location; the location is not described as the source of speech.

Open 言 →

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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 語; 语 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
吾
吾wú語yǔ
Same sound today

The form 語 pairs 言 (speech) with 吾, which gives the sound; this note is about 語, not 语.

Open 语 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Communication & SpeechIdioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.