Hanzi
CharactersIdiomsChinese ZodiacChinese Name
Tools
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorRender Chinese text as a downloadable image
  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
View all tools →
Blogs
八面玲珑
八面玲珑
八面玲珑
八面玲珑
八面玲珑
八面玲珑
八面玲珑

八面玲珑 — “To be all things to all men”

八面玲珑 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be all things to all men”. Smooth and slick in social dealings; highly adaptable and tactful in interpersonal relationships, often to the point of being ingratiating or artful. Literally, “exquisite on all sides”.

Frequency

八面玲珑 Pronunciation and Pinyin

  • 八bā
  • 面miàn
  • 玲líng
  • 珑lóng

八面玲珑 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
八
bā2the number eight
面
miàn9face, surface, side, flour, noodles
玲
líng9jingling sound of jade
珑
lóng9tinkling sound of jade

Example Sentence with 八面玲珑

他总是八面玲珑,无论遇到什么样的人都能聊得来,深得大家喜爱
He is always smooth and adaptable, able to converse well with anyone he meets, making him widely liked.

Idioms Related to 八面玲珑

Synonyms of 八面玲珑

  • bā八miàn面jiàn见guāng光worldly-wise and tactful in all situations
  • jiàn见fēng风shǐ使duò舵adapt to circumstances opportunistically

Antonyms of 八面玲珑

  • gāng刚zhí直bù不ē阿upright and unbending
  • xīn心kǒu口rú如yī一to be frank and straightforward

More idioms starting with 八

  • bā八wàn万sì四qiān千innumerable; countless
  • bā八liǎng两bàn半jīn斤six of one, half a dozen of the other
  • bā八jiǔ九bù不lí离shí十very close to the mark
  • bā八xiān仙guò过hǎi海Each uses their unique skills to achieve a goal
  • bā八xiān仙guò过hǎi海,,gè各xiǎn显qí其néng能everyone shows their unique skills
  • bā八xiān仙guò过hǎi海,,gè各xiǎn显shén神tōng通Each shows their special skills
  • bā八gōng公shān山shàng上,,cǎo草mù木jiē皆bīng兵extreme panic, imagining every bush an enemy
  • bā八gōng公cǎo草mù木imagining enemies in every bush and tree
  • bā八zì字dǎ打kāi开take a roundabout or unconventional approach
  • bā八zì字méi没yī一piě撇nothing has been decided or started
  • bā八zì字méi没jiàn见yī一piě撇no sign of progress yet
  • bā八fǔ府xún巡àn按powerful imperial inspector of justice

Questions about 八面玲珑

What does 八面玲珑 mean?
八面玲珑 (bā miàn líng lóng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be all things to all men”.
How do you pronounce 八面玲珑?
八面玲珑 is pronounced bā miàn líng lóng in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 八面玲珑 literally mean?
Literally, 八面玲珑 means “exquisite on all sides”. It is used to mean “to be all things to all men”.
What is the Chinese definition of 八面玲珑?
玲珑:精巧细致,指人灵活、敏捷。本指窗户明亮轩敞。后用来形容人处世圆滑,待人接物面面俱到。
Copy the pinyin for 八面玲珑 →Choose tone marks or tone numbers and copy the complete four-character reading.Read Chinese vocabulary and idiom guides →Continue with words, phrases, and idioms explained through natural examples.

© 2026 hanzi.now

Contact Us