溢于言表 (yì yú yán biǎo) — to show (feelings) clearly in one's words and m…

Definition

A chengyu meaning feelings show clearly without saying them outright — one's words and manner make the emotion obvious.

idiom

to show (feelings) clearly in one's words and manner

，溢于言表。
Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā de xǐ yuè yì yú yán biǎo.
Upon hearing this news, his joy showed clearly in his words and manner.
溢于言表。
Tā duì dà jiā de bāng zhù gǎn jī zhī qíng yì yú yán biǎo.
Her gratitude for everyone's help was evident in her words and expression.
，溢于言表。
Lí bié shí, tā de bú shè yì yú yán biǎo.
At parting, his reluctance was clearly shown in his words and manner.

Characters in this word

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

氵益溢

溢 is built from 氵, water, and 益, to increase, so it shows water rising and spilling over its edge.

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

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

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.

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

The shape 表 pairs 衣 (garment) with 毛 (hair or feather), originally an outer garment.