花言巧语 — “Deceptive and flattering words, often used to mislead or trick someone”
花言巧语 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Deceptive and flattering words, often used to mislead or trick someone”. Honeyed words meant to deceive. Literally, “Flowery words and clever talk”.
Frequency
花言巧语 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 花huā
- 言yán
- 巧qiǎo
- 语yǔ
花言巧语 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 花言巧语
他总是用花言巧语哄骗别人，所以大家都不太信任他。
He always uses flowery words and clever talk to deceive others, so people don't really trust him.
Origin and Story of 花言巧语
Zhang Sheng was fond of Yingying and wrote her a love letter, secretly entrusting it to her maid, Hongniang, to deliver.
Yingying feigned anger but wrote a reply to Zhang Sheng, which was actually a subtle invitation for a secret rendezvous under the moonlight.
Hongniang, seeing through the deception, deliberately pretended to be unwilling to deliver the letter.
Cui Yingying then had to resort to 'flowery and clever words' (花言巧语) to persuade Hongniang to deliver the message for her.
Idioms Related to 花言巧语
Synonyms of 花言巧语
Antonyms of 花言巧语
More idioms starting with 花
- huā花xià下shài晒kūn裈Behave vulgarly in a refined setting
- huā花bù不léng棱dēng登gaudy and disorderly in color
- huā花bù不mí迷rén人rén人zì自mí迷One is captivated by own feelings
- huā花lì丽hú狐shào哨overly gaudy or flashy
- huā花xìn信nián年huá华a woman's prime of youth
- huā花guāng光liǔ柳yǐng影beautiful spring scenery
- huā花qián前yuè月xià下romantic setting for lovers
- huā花tuán团jǐn锦cù簇magnificent, vibrant, and colorful display
- huā花duī堆jǐn锦cù簇resplendent and colorful
- huā花tiān天jiǔ酒dì地indulge in debauchery and excessive sensual pleasures
- huā花tiān天jǐn锦dì地a scene of great splendor and prosperity
- huā花hǎo好yuè月yuán圆perfect harmony and happiness
Questions about 花言巧语
- What does 花言巧语 mean?
- 花言巧语 (huā yán qiǎo yǔ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Deceptive and flattering words, often used to mislead or trick someone”.
- How do you pronounce 花言巧语?
- 花言巧语 is pronounced huā yán qiǎo yǔ in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 花言巧语 literally mean?
- Literally, 花言巧语 means “Flowery words and clever talk”. It is used to mean “Deceptive and flattering words, often used to mislead or trick someone”.
- Where does 花言巧语 come from?
- 花言巧语 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 花言巧语?
- 原指铺张修饰、内容空泛的言语或文辞。后多指用来骗人的虚伪动听的话。