指东说西 — “To beat around the bush”
指东说西 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to beat around the bush”. To speak indirectly or in a roundabout way, often implying criticism or making an indirect accusation. Literally, “Point east, speak west”.
Frequency
指东说西 Pronunciation and Pinyin
指东说西 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 指东说西
小张对同事的工作方式有些不满，但又不好意思直接说，只好指东说西地提了几句建议。
Xiao Zhang was somewhat dissatisfied with his colleague's work style, but felt awkward saying it directly, so he could only hint indirectly by offering a few suggestions.
Idioms Related to 指东说西
Synonyms of 指东说西
More idioms starting with 指
- zhǐ指yī一shuō说shí十exaggerate a minor issue
- zhǐ指bù不shèng胜lǚ偻too many to count
- zhǐ指bù不shèng胜qū屈too many to count
- zhǐ指bù不shèng胜shù数too numerous to count
- zhǐ指dōng东huà划xī西talk evasively or beat around the bush
- zhǐ指dōng东dǎ打xī西feint east, attack west
- zhǐ指dōng东huà画xī西Beat around the bush
- zhǐ指dōng东mà骂xī西criticize indirectly
- zhǐ指shì事lèi类qíng情explain principles and illustrate situations
- zhǐ指qīn亲tuō托gù故claim kinship or feign acquaintance
- zhǐ指nìng佞chù触xié邪expose sycophants and resist evil
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Open the tool →Questions about 指东说西
What does 指东说西 mean?
指东说西 (zhǐ dōng shuō xī) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to beat around the bush”.
How do you pronounce 指东说西?
指东说西 is pronounced zhǐ dōng shuō xī in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 指东说西 literally mean?
Literally, 指东说西 means “Point east, speak west”. It is used to mean “to beat around the bush”.
What is the Chinese definition of 指东说西?
①见“指东话西”。②犹言指桑骂槐。