欲言又止 — “To be on the verge of speaking but hold back”
欲言又止 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be on the verge of speaking but hold back”. To hesitate to speak, often due to unspoken difficulties or reservations. Literally, “Want to speak yet stop”.
Frequency
欲言又止 Pronunciation and Pinyin
欲言又止 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 欲言又止
他几次欲言又止，似乎有什么重要的秘密想告诉我。
He hesitated to speak several times, as if he had some important secret he wanted to tell me.
Idioms Related to 欲言又止
Synonyms of 欲言又止
Antonyms of 欲言又止
More idioms starting with 欲
- yù欲bù不kě可zòng纵Do not indulge desires excessively
- yù欲rén人wù勿zhī知，，mò莫ruò若wù勿wèi为If you don't want it known, don't do it
- yù欲rén人wù勿wén闻，，mò莫ruò若wù勿yán言If you don't want it heard, don't say it
- yù欲jiā加zhī之zuì罪trumped-up charge
- yù欲jiā加zhī之zuì罪，，hé何huàn患wú无cí辞If you want to condemn, you'll find a pretext
- yù欲qǔ取gū姑yǔ与Give a little to take a lot
- yù欲qǔ取gū姑yǔ予Give a little to gain a lot
- yù欲hè壑nán难tián填desire is a bottomless pit
- yù欲dé得ér而gān甘xīn心satisfied only when one gets revenge
- yù欲yáng扬xiān先yì抑suppress first to elevate later
- yù欲qín擒xiān先zòng纵release to catch
- yù欲qín擒gù故zòng纵to loosen to catch
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Open the tool →Questions about 欲言又止
What does 欲言又止 mean?
欲言又止 (yù yán yòu zhǐ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be on the verge of speaking but hold back”.
How do you pronounce 欲言又止?
欲言又止 is pronounced yù yán yòu zhǐ in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 欲言又止 literally mean?
Literally, 欲言又止 means “Want to speak yet stop”. It is used to mean “to be on the verge of speaking but hold back”.
What is the Chinese definition of 欲言又止?
想说又停止不说。形容有难言的苦衷。