花言巧语 (huā yán qiǎo yǔ) — sweet talk; deceptive flattery; honeyed words m… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A set phrase (chengyu) for insincere, flowery talk designed to flatter or trick — carries a strong negative judgment, like 'honeyed words' or 'sweet talk used to deceive.'

idiom

sweet talkdeceptive flatteryhoneyed words meant to trick someone

Examples

花言巧语，。
Bú yào xiāng xìn tā de huā yán qiǎo yǔ, tā zhǐ shì zài piàn nǐ.
Don't believe his sweet talk — he's just trying to trick you.
花言巧语。
Nà xiē xiāo shòu yuán yòng huā yán qiǎo yǔ shuō fú gù kè mǎi le bù xū yào de dōng xī.
Those salespeople used sweet talk to convince customers to buy things they didn't need.
花言巧语，。
Wǒ zǎo jiù tīng gòu le tā de huā yán qiǎo yǔ, zài yě bú huì xiāng xìn le.
I've long had enough of his sweet talk and will never believe it again.

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.

花言flowery words

花huāflowery言yánwords

偏正Modifier + head

巧语clever talk

巧qiǎoclever语yǔwords

偏正Modifier + head

花言 means flowery words, and 巧语 means clever 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.

艹化花

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

化

Same sound today

花 pairs 艹 (grass; plant) with 化, which gives the sound.

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.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

工丂巧

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

丂

丂kǎo巧qiǎo

Same sound today

巧 is made of 工 and 丂; 工 points to its meaning, and 丂 points to its sound.

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.

言吾語

Meaning part形符xíngfú

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.

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