振振有词 zhèn zhèn yǒu cí
to speak plausibly and at length; to argue with self-righteous confidence
Literally: vigorous vigorous have words
Tap a character above to see its stroke order and the words it appears in.
Origin
From Zhu Xi's Zhuzi Yulei; the modern sense of arguing glibly and self-righteously is fixed in Qing fiction such as Liaozhai Zhiyi.
How to use it
Predicate or adverbial; mildly negative or ironic. Often 振振有词地辩解.
Example sentences
Show:
Tap any word for its meaning and pinyin. The chengyu is highlighted.
- 他明明迟到了，还振振有词地说是公司的闹钟坏了。Tā míngmíng chídào le, hái zhèn zhèn yǒu cí de shuō shì gōngsī de nàozhōng huài le.He was clearly late, yet he argued with great confidence that the company's alarm clock was broken.he obviously late (particle), still vigorous vigorous have words (adverbial particle) say is company (attributive particle) alarm clock broken (particle)
- 被抓住的小偷居然振振有词，说自己是被逼无奈。Bèi zhuāzhù de xiǎotōu jūrán zhèn zhèn yǒu cí, shuō zìjǐ shì bèi bī wúnài.The captured thief actually argued self-righteously that he had been forced into it.(passive marker) catch (attributive particle) thief unexpectedly vigorous vigorous have words, say self is (passive marker) force helpless
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
- 含糊其辞hán hu qí cíto speak evasively; to be deliberately vague
- 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
- 唇枪舌剑chún qiāng shé jiàna heated verbal battle; to cross swords in debate