TongTong
Sign in

绕圈子 (rào quān zi) — to go around in circles; to make a detour; to beat around the bush; to speak indirectly

Definition

Two meanings from one phrase: literally going in/detouring a circle, and figuratively beating around the bush in speech. The figurative sense is far more common in conversation.

verb
to go around in circlesto make a detourto beat around the bushto speak indirectly

Examples

  • 绕圈子，。
    Bié gēn wǒ rào quān zi le, zhí jiē shuō ba.
    Don't beat around the bush with me, just say it directly.
  • 。
    Wǒ men rào le yí gè dà quān zi cái dào nà lǐ.
    We made a big detour before arriving there.
  • 绕圈子，。
    Tā xǐ huan rào quān zi, bù zhí jiē huí dá wèn tí.
    He likes to beat around the bush and not answer questions directly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

绕ràocircle
圈子circle
圈quāncircle子zǐ
后缀Suffix

绕 (circle) and 圈子 (circle) combine to mean go around in circles or speak indirectly.

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 繞; 绕 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìrope
Sound part声符shēngfú
堯
堯yáo繞rào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 繞 pairs 糸 (rope) with 堯 as a sound component; the simplified 绕 is a later shorthand.

Open 绕 →

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
囗囗wéi
Sound part声符shēngfú
卷
卷juàn圈quān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

圈 is made of the outer 囗, an enclosure shape, and the inner 卷, which gives the sound.

Open 圈 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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