谈言微中 — “To speak tactfully and subtly, yet hitting the core point or essence”

谈言微中 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to speak tactfully and subtly, yet hitting the core point or essence”. To make profound and pertinent remarks in a gentle manner. Literally, “Subtle talk hits the mark”.

Frequency

谈言微中 Pronunciation and Pinyin

谈言微中 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
谈	tán	10	talk, discuss, converse
言	yán	7	speak, say, words
微	wēi	13	tiny, subtle, or slight
中	zhòng	4	middle, in, China, hit, win

Example Sentence with 谈言微中

在讨论会中，他的发言总是谈言微中，寥寥数语便点出了问题的关键。

During the discussion, his remarks were always tactful yet incisive, and with just a few words, he pinpointed the crux of the problem.

Origin and Story of 谈言微中

During the Qin Dynasty, there was a talented dwarf entertainer named You Ni, who was skilled in singing, dancing, and telling jokes. His jokes often contained profound wisdom, making subtle yet incisive points, which earned him the deep trust of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

One day, the Emperor expressed a desire to expand his imperial garden. You Ni wittily suggested that they could raise more deer and use their antlers to ward off enemies. Realizing the impracticality and absurdity of the idea through You Ni's humorous remark, Emperor Qin Shi Huang abandoned his plan to expand the garden.