舞文弄墨 (wǔ wén nòng mò) — to pervert the law by playing with words; to use legal chicanery; to show off one's literary skill; to engage in word-mongering for effect

Definition

An idiom for twisting words to mislead, often twisting the law through clever wording or showing off fancy writing without substance. The two senses (legal trickery vs. literary showing off) are typically set by context.

idiom
to pervert the law by playing with wordsto use legal chicaneryto show off one's literary skillto engage in word-mongering for effect

Examples

  • 舞文弄墨，。
    Tā kào wǔ wén nòng mò, táo guò le fǎ lǜ de chéng fá.
    He relied on legal chicanery to escape punishment.
  • ，舞文弄墨。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng méi yǒu rèn hé shí zhì nèi róng, zhǐ shì zài wǔ wén nòng mò.
    This article has no substance; it's just word-mongering.
  • 舞文弄墨，。
    Tā xǐ huan wǔ wén nòng mò, dàn xiě chū lái de dōng xī méi shén me shēn dù.
    He likes to show off his writing, but what he writes has no depth.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

舞文play with writing
舞wǔplay with文wénwriting
动宾Verb + object
弄墨play with ink
弄nòngplay with墨mòink
动宾Verb + object

舞文 (playing with writing) 弄墨 (playing with ink) describe twisting words or showing off literary skill.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
舛舛chuǎnsteps, feet in convergent direction
Sound part声符shēngfú
無
無wú舞wǔ
Same sound today

舞 combines 舛, showing feet in converging steps, with 無 above. 無 gave the sound and also preserved its older meaning of dancing, so the shape points to dancing.

Open 舞 →

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

The current form 文 shows a man with head, arms, legs, and chest; the tattoo marks on the chest are no longer drawn.

Open 文 →

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

The form 弄 combines 玉 (jade) with 廾 (hands), showing hands touching or handling jade.

Open 弄 →

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
土土tǔsoil
Sound part声符shēngfú
黑
黑hēi墨mò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

墨 is built from 土 (soil) and 黑, with 黑 giving the sound.

Open 墨 →

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