哪里话 (nǎ lǐ huà) — (polite expression) not at all, you flatter me

Definition

A polite, set response to a compliment, meaning roughly 'not at all' or 'you flatter me.' Often paired with 你过奖了.

idiom
(polite expression) not at allyou flatter me

Examples

  • A:！B:哪里话，。
    A: nǐ de hàn yǔ shuō dé zhēn hǎo! B: nǎ lǐ huà, wǒ hái chà de yuǎn ne.
    A: Your Chinese is really good! B: Not at all, I still have a long way to go.
  • A:！B:哪里话，。
    A: nǐ zuò de cài tài hǎo chī le! B: nǎ lǐ huà, nǐ guò jiǎng le.
    A: The dish you made is delicious! B: You flatter me, you're too kind.
  • A:！B:哪里话，。
    A: nǐ zhēn shì gè tiān cái! B: nǎ lǐ huà, wǒ zhǐ shì yùn qì hǎo.
    A: You're a genius! B: Not at all, I just got lucky.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

哪里where
哪nǎwhich里lǐplace
偏正Modifier + head
话huàwords

哪里 (where) and 话 (words) form a polite reply denying praise.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 哪 →

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 裡; 里 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 里 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (里, 里面) it is 裡; in others (公里) it is 里 or 裏.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ裡lǐ
Same sound today

The form 裡 pairs 衤 (clothes) with 里 as a sound component.

Open 里 →

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 話; 话 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑話huà
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 話, 言 relates to words and 𠯑 gives the sound; the simplified 话 is a shorthand, so its right side is not that sound part.

Open 话 →

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