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闲言碎语 (xián yán suì yǔ) — gossip; idle chatter; carping remarks (pejorative)

Definition

A pejorative idiom for petty, sour gossip — idle chatter that criticizes or stirs trouble. Sets a negative tone, so use it about remarks you disapprove of.

idiom
gossipidle chattercarping remarks (pejorative)

Examples

  • 闲言碎语，。
    Bú yào tīng xìn nà xiē xián yán suì yǔ, tā men zhǐ shì jí dù nǐ de chéng jì.
    Don't listen to that gossip; they're just jealous of your achievements.
  • 闲言碎语，。
    Gōng sī lǐ de xián yán suì yǔ yuè lái yuè duō, yǐng xiǎng le dà jiā de gōng zuò.
    The idle chatter in the company is growing, affecting everyone's work.
  • 闲言碎语，。
    Tā cóng bù cān yù nà xiē xián yán suì yǔ, zhī zhuān zhù zì jǐ de shì qing.
    He never takes part in that gossip, only focusing on his own matters.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

闲言idle words
闲xiánidle言yánwords
偏正Modifier + head
碎语broken talk
碎suìbroken语yǔwords
偏正Modifier + head

闲言, 'idle words', and 碎语, 'broken talk', combine as parallel gossip.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 閒; 闲 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 閒 puts 月 (moon) inside 門 (door), as if moonlight peeks through a door; this picture gives the idea of a gap or space. The simplified 闲 is a later abbreviation.

Open 闲 →

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 →

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
石石shístone
Sound part声符shēngfú
卒
卒zú碎suì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

碎 pairs 石 (stone) with 卒, which gives the sound; the stone part is tied to the sense of breaking or smashing.

Open 碎 →

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
Idioms & Set Phrases

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