难以言表 (nán yǐ yán biǎo) — difficult to express in words; indescribable; i…

Definition

A set phrase meaning feelings or situations are so strong or complex that words cannot express them — 'beyond words, ineffable.'

verb

difficult to express in wordsindescribableineffable

难以言表。
Zhè zhǒng xìng fú de gǎn jué nán yǐ yán biǎo.
This feeling of happiness is hard to put into words.
难以言表。
Tā xīn zhōng de gǎn jī zhī qíng nán yǐ yán biǎo.
The gratitude in his heart is beyond words.
难以言表。
Zhè jiàn shì de fù zá chéng dù nán yǐ yán biǎo.
The complexity of this matter is indescribable.

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 難; 难 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

隹隹zhuībird

Sound part声符shēngfú

暵

暵hàn難nán

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional 難 pairs 隹, a bird, with 暵 for sound, and meant a type of bird. It was later borrowed for other meanings; the modern 难 is a shorthand.

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

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

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.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape 表 pairs 衣 (garment) with 毛 (hair or feather), originally an outer garment.

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