Definition
字眼 (zì yǎn) refers to a specific word or phrase chosen in a particular context, often when commenting on its tone or appropriateness. It is more concrete than 说法 (shuō fǎ 'way of saying something'), which focuses on the overall formulation, and more colloquial than 言辞 (yán cí), a formal/literary term for 'words, speech'. 文字 (wén zì) is broader, meaning 'written characters' or 'writing' as a system.
noun
a specific word or phrase (especially when discussing choice of wording)wording (refers to the particular words used)
Examples
- 字眼。Tā zài wénzhāng lǐ xuǎn de zì yǎn hěn jiǎngjiu.The wording he chose in the article is very tasteful.
- 字眼，。Nà zhǒng zì yǎn tài cūsú le, zuì hǎo bú yào yòng.That kind of wording is too vulgar; better not use it.
- 字眼。Xiě bàogào shí yào zhùyì nǎxiē zì yǎn bù néng suíbiàn yòng.When writing a report, you need to pay attention to which words you can't use casually.
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