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信口 (xìn kǒu) — recklessly, without thinking (in speech); insincerely, saying one thing while thinking another

Definition

信口 means speaking without thinking — carelessly or insincerely, often paired with verbs like 说, 答应, or 胡说. It always implies recklessness, not just casual speech.

adjective
recklesslywithout thinking (in speech)insincerely, saying one thing while thinking another

Examples

  • 信口，。
    Tā xìn kǒu dā ying le, gēn běn méi xiǎng qīng chǔ.
    He agreed thoughtlessly, without thinking it through at all.
  • 信口，。
    Nǐ bú yào xìn kǒu hú shuō, shì shí bú shì nà yàng de.
    Don't speak recklessly; the facts aren't like that.
  • 信口，。
    Tā xìn kǒu shuō le yí jù, méi xiǎng dào duì fāng dàng zhēn le.
    She said it carelessly, not expecting the other person to take it seriously.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

信xìnlet/follow
口kǒumouth

信 “let/follow” + 口 “mouth” = letting the mouth speak without thinking.

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
言言yánwords
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén信xìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

Open 信 →

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 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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