巧言令色 — “To use honeyed words and an ingratiating manner”
巧言令色 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to use honeyed words and an ingratiating manner”. To speak engagingly and assume an obsequious expression to curry favor. Literally, “clever words, pleasing countenance”.
巧言令色 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 巧qiǎo
- 言yán
- 令lìng
- 色sè
巧言令色 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 巧言令色
Origin and Story of 巧言令色
Legend has it that during the reign of Emperor Shun, Gao Yao and Yu were discussing important matters of state governance. Gao Yao believed that to manage affairs according to the ways of previous kings, ministers should be united and of one heart and mind. As an emperor, one should also be strict with oneself, set an example, and treat others with generosity and benevolence.
Yu added that it is also essential to know people well and assign them to appropriate positions. Only wise individuals can properly employ people and will not be swayed by those who use honeyed words and an ingratiating manner to curry favor.
Idioms Related to 巧言令色
Antonyms of 巧言令色
More idioms starting with 巧
- qiǎo巧shàng上jiā加qiǎo巧adding ingenuity to ingenuity
- qiǎo巧bù不kě可jiē接too ingenious to be matched
- qiǎo巧bù不kě可jiē阶too ingenious to be surpassed
- qiǎo巧bù不shèng胜zhuō拙Plain effort outweighs cleverness
- qiǎo巧bù不ruò若zhuō拙Simplicity often beats cleverness
- qiǎo巧wěi伪bù不rú如zhuō拙chéng诚Clumsy sincerity is better than artful hypocrisy
- qiǎo巧wěi伪qū趋lì利crafty and false, pursuing gain
- qiǎo巧zuò作míng名mù目invent clever pretexts for improper purpose
- qiǎo巧tōu偷háo豪duó夺cunningly defraud and forcefully seize
- qiǎo巧fā发qí奇zhòng中make a clever and accurate prediction
- qiǎo巧qǔ取háo豪duó夺acquire by trickery or force
- qiǎo巧tóng同zào造huà化ingenious like nature's creation
Questions about 巧言令色
- What does 巧言令色 mean?
- 巧言令色 (qiǎo yán lìng sè) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to use honeyed words and an ingratiating manner”.
- How do you pronounce 巧言令色?
- 巧言令色 is pronounced qiǎo yán lìng sè in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 巧言令色 literally mean?
- Literally, 巧言令色 means “clever words, pleasing countenance”. It is used to mean “to use honeyed words and an ingratiating manner”.
- Where does 巧言令色 come from?
- 巧言令色 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 巧言令色?
- 巧言：花言巧语；令色：讨好的表情。形容花言巧语，虚伪讨好。