TongTong
Sign in

不言自明 (bù yán zì míng) — self-evident, obvious without being said

Definition

A four-character idiom (chengyu) meaning 'self-evident' — something so clear it does not need to be stated aloud. Used to underline that a conclusion speaks for itself, often with a slightly formal, written tone.

idiom
self-evidentobvious without being said

Examples

  • 不言自明。
    Zhè jiàn shì de jié guǒ bù yán zì míng.
    The result of this matter is self-evident.
  • 不言自明，。
    Tā de lǐ yóu bù yán zì míng, bù xū yào duō jiě shì.
    His reasons are self-evident; no need for much explanation.
  • 不言自明。
    Zhè ge wèn tí de dá àn bù yán zì míng.
    The answer to this question is self-evident.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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 →

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

明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), showing the sun just rising while the moon has not yet set, or two bright objects in the sky, to express brightness.

Open 明 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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