八面玲珑 (bā miàn líng lóng) — smooth and slick in dealing with people; socially adept and diplomatic

Definition

Refers to someone who is socially slick and flattering to all sides. Note that this carries a negative connotation — it implies insincerity, unlike genuine diplomacy.

idiom
smooth and slick in dealing with peoplesocially adept and diplomatic

Examples

  • 八面玲珑，。
    Zhè ge jīng lǐ bā miàn líng lóng, duì shuí dōu hěn kè qi.
    This manager is very smooth and treats everyone politely.
  • 八面玲珑，。
    Tā zuò shì bā miàn líng lóng, zài shè jiāo quān lǐ hěn shòu huān yíng.
    He handles things diplomatically and is very popular in social circles.
  • 八面玲珑，。
    Tā suī rán bā miàn líng lóng, dàn rén men zǒng jué de tā bú gòu zhēn chéng.
    Although she is socially slick, people always feel she isn't sincere enough.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

八面
八bāeight面miànside
偏正Modifier + head
玲珑
玲líng珑lóng

八面 and 玲珑 together suggest every side is smooth and exquisite.

Characters in this word

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

八 shows two bent lines, indicating the original meaning 'to divide'; it was later used for 'eight' because the words sounded alike.

Open 八 →

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

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.

Open 面 →

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
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng玲
Same sound today

玲 pairs 玉 (jade) with 令, which gives its sound.

Open 玲 →

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 瓏; 珑 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
龍
龍lóng瓏
Same sound today

For 珑, the traditional form 瓏 pairs 玉 (jade) with 龍 (dragon), which gives the sound.

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