TongTong
Sign in

畅所欲言 (chàng suǒ yù yán) — to speak one's mind freely; to express oneself without inhibition

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'speak one's mind freely,' emphasizing an open atmosphere where everyone feels free to express opinions without holding back.

idiom
to speak one's mind freelyto express oneself without inhibition

Examples

  • ，畅所欲言，。
    Zhè cì zuò tán huì shàng, dà jiā chàng suǒ yù yán, qì fen fēi cháng rè liè.
    At this forum, everyone spoke freely, and the atmosphere was very lively.
  • ，畅所欲言，。
    Zài jiā tíng jù huì zhōng, wǒ men chàng suǒ yù yán, fēn xiǎng gè zì de xiǎng fǎ.
    During the family gathering, we spoke freely and shared our own ideas.
  • 畅所欲言，。
    Lǎo shī gǔ lì xué shēng chàng suǒ yù yán, bú yào dān xīn fàn cuò.
    The teacher encouraged the students to speak their minds without worrying about making mistakes.

Origin

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 暢; 畅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
申申shēn
Sound part声符shēngfú
昜
昜yáng暢chàng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 暢 combines 申 and 昜, with 昜 giving the sound; the simplified 畅 is a later shorthand.

Open 畅 →

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
斤斤jīnaxe
Sound part声符shēngfú
戶
戶hù所suǒ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

所 pairs 斤, an axe, with 戶, which gives the sound hù; the old meaning was the sound of logging.

Open 所 →

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
欠欠qiàn
Sound part声符shēngfú
谷
谷gǔ欲yù
Same sound today

欲 is made of 谷, which supplies the sound, and 欠, which relates to the meaning.

Open 欲 →

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.

Open 言 →
Appears in
Communication & SpeechIdioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.