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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.
  • 。
    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liánhéCoordinate

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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