南腔北调 — “To speak with a mixed or inconsistent accent”
南腔北调 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to speak with a mixed or inconsistent accent”. Often blending different regional dialects or speech patterns, making it difficult to identify one's origin. Literally, “Southern tunes, northern dialects”.
Frequency
南腔北调 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 南nán
- 腔qiāng
- 北běi
- 调diào
南腔北调 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 南腔北调
他一个人在外面闯荡多年，说话就带上了南腔北调，很难听出是哪里人。
After years of traveling and working away from home, his speech has developed a mixed accent, making it hard to discern his original regional background.
Idioms Related to 南腔北调
More idioms starting with 南
- nán南rén人jià驾chuán船，，běi北rén人chéng乘mǎ马different people have different skills
- nán南guān冠chǔ楚qiú囚a captive or prisoner of war
- nán南běi北dōng东xī西all directions; everywhere
- nán南qù去běi北lái来to come and go
- nán南shān山zhī之shòu寿long life like the South Mountain
- nán南shān山kě可yí移Absolutely firm and unchangeable
- nán南shān山kě可yí移，，pàn判bù不kě可yáo摇An unchangeable, firm judgment
- nán南shān山kě可yí移，，cǐ此àn案bù不dòng动This case is final and unchangeable
- nán南shān山yǒu有niǎo鸟，，běi北shān山zhāng张luo罗bark up the wrong tree
- nán南shān山tiě铁àn案a settled and unalterable case
- nán南shān山yǐn隐bào豹wise person living in seclusion
- nán南zhōu州guān冠miǎn冕outstanding talent from the southern region
Questions about 南腔北调
- What does 南腔北调 mean?
- 南腔北调 (nán qiāng běi diào) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to speak with a mixed or inconsistent accent”.
- How do you pronounce 南腔北调?
- 南腔北调 is pronounced nán qiāng běi diào in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 南腔北调 literally mean?
- Literally, 南腔北调 means “Southern tunes, northern dialects”. It is used to mean “to speak with a mixed or inconsistent accent”.
- What is the Chinese definition of 南腔北调?
- 原指戏曲的南北腔调。现形容说话口音不纯，搀杂着方言。