能说会道 (néng shuō huì dào) — eloquent, articulate, good with words

Definition

Idiom for someone who is articulate and persuasive — 'a good talker'. Often a compliment in sales or hosting, but can imply being glib or slick.

idiom
eloquentarticulategood with words

Examples

  • 能说会道，。
    Tā hěn néng shuō huì dào, shuō fú le suǒ yǒu zài chǎng de rén.
    He is very eloquent and persuaded everyone present.
  • 能说会道，。
    Zhè wèi zhǔ chí rén néng shuō huì dào, jié mù qì fen zǒng shì hěn huó yuè.
    This host is so articulate that the show atmosphere is always lively.
  • 能说会道。
    Zuò xiāo shòu xū yào néng shuō huì dào de kǒu cái.
    Being a salesperson requires the gift of gab.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

能说able to speak
能néngable说shuōspeak
偏正Modifier + head
会道able to discourse
会huìable道dàospeak
偏正Modifier + head

“能说” (able to speak) and “会道” (able to discourse) combine to describe skill with words.

Characters in this word

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

能 is an old picture of a bear, showing two paws and a face with an open mouth.

Open 能 →

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 說; 说 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì說shuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 說 pairs 言 (meaning) with 兌 (sound); the simplified 说 is not the form described here.

Open 说 →

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 會; 会 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
合合héto meet
Sound part声符shēngfú
𡆧
𡆧𡆧會huì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Traditional 會 pairs 合 (to meet) with 𡆧, an original form for ironware, to give the sound. The simplified 会 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 会 →

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
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →
Appears in
Communication & SpeechIdioms & Set Phrases

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