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细语 (xì yǔ) — whispered intimate speech, soft private conversation (often between romantic partners)

Definition

细语 (xì yǔ) is a literary noun for soft, intimate whispering between two people — usually a couple — as if overheard. It is more poetic and written than everyday 悄悄话.

noun
whispered intimate speechsoft private conversation (often between romantic partners)

Examples

  • ，细语。
    Yè shēn le, tā men hái zài chuáng shàng shuō zhe xì yǔ.
    Late at night, they were still having whispered intimate conversation in bed.
  • 细语。
    Liǎng rén de xì yǔ ràng páng biān de rén gǎn dào shí fēn wēn xīn.
    Their soft whispers made the people nearby feel very warm.
  • 细语。
    Nà xiē xì yǔ zhǐ yǒu tā men zì jǐ cái tīng dé qīng chǔ.
    Only they themselves could hear those low intimate words clearly.

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.

细xìsoft/fine
语yǔspeech

细 describes speech as soft or low, and 语 is speech, so together they mean whispered talk.

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 細; 细 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
囟
囟xìn細xì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 細 pairs 糸, silk or thread, with 囟 for the sound. The simplified 细 is a later shorthand, and the old right part changed shape.

Open 细 →

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 語; 语 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
吾
吾wú語yǔ
Same sound today

The form 語 pairs 言 (speech) with 吾, which gives the sound; this note is about 語, not 语.

Open 语 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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