含糊其辞 hán hu qí cí
to speak evasively; to be deliberately vague
Literally: vague its words
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Origin
Descriptive; no single source story. The form 含糊其词 is attested in Qing-era memorials and fiction.
How to use it
Predicate or adverbial; negative. Often 对关键问题含糊其辞.
Example sentences
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- 记者追问事故原因时,负责人含糊其辞,不肯正面回答。Jìzhě zhuīwèn shìgù yuányīn shí, fùzérén hán hu qí cí, bù kěn zhèngmiàn huídá.When reporters pressed for the cause of the accident, the person in charge was evasive and refused to answer directly.reporter press-ask accident cause time, responsible person vague its words, not willing directly answer
- 合同条款不能含糊其辞,否则日后容易产生纠纷。Hétong tiáokuǎn bù néng hán hu qí cí, fǒuzé rìhòu róngyì chǎnshēng jiūfēn.Contract clauses must not be vague, or disputes will easily arise later.contract clause not can vague its words, otherwise later easy produce dispute
More chengyu about speech & communication
- 不言而喻bù yán ér yùself-evident; it goes without saying
- 一针见血yì zhēn jiàn xiěto hit the nail on the head; incisive and to the point
- 侃侃而谈kǎn kǎn ér tánto speak with confidence and fluency; to talk with ease and assurance
- 言简意赅yán jiǎn yì gāiconcise and comprehensive; brief but to the point
- 危言耸听wēi yán sǒng tīngto spread alarmist talk; to exaggerate in order to frighten
- 一诺千金yí nuò qiān jīna promise worth a thousand pieces of gold; one's word is one's bond
- 振振有词zhèn zhèn yǒu cíto speak plausibly and at length; to argue with self-righteous confidence
- 唇枪舌剑chún qiāng shé jiàna heated verbal battle; to cross swords in debate