言谈举止 (yán tán jǔ zhǐ) — speech and deportment; one's manner of speaking and behaving

Definition

A formal four-character noun meaning the way a person speaks and carries themselves — both words (言谈) and actions (举止). It is a set phrase (成语-style) used to evaluate someone's overall manners and breeding.

noun
speech and deportmentone's manner of speaking and behaving

Examples

  • 言谈举止，。
    Tā de yán tán jǔ zhǐ fēi cháng dé tǐ, gěi miàn shì guān liú xià le hǎo yìn xiàng.
    His speech and deportment were very appropriate, leaving a good impression on the interviewer.
  • 言谈举止。
    Yí gè rén de yán tán jǔ zhǐ fǎn yìng le tā de xiū yǎng.
    A person's speech and deportment reflect their upbringing.
  • ，言谈举止。
    Zài shè jiāo chǎng hé, zhù yì yán tán jǔ zhǐ hěn zhòng yào.
    In social settings, paying attention to one's speech and deportment is very important.

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.

言谈speech
言yánwords谈tántalk
联合Side by side
举止conduct
举jǔact止zhǐstop
联合Side by side

The 言谈 (speech) and 举止 (conduct) are paired to mean how a person speaks and behaves.

Characters in this word

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.

Open 言 →

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 談; 谈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
炎
炎yán談tán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 谈, the traditional form 談 pairs 言 (speech) with 炎 (yán) as the sound part.

Open 谈 →

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 舉; 举 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
與
與yǔ舉jǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 舉 pairs 與, which gives the sound, with 手, a hand; the simplified 举 is a later shorthand.

Open 举 →

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

止 was drawn as a footprint pointing up, with three toes and a sole, originally showing a foot.

Open 止 →

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