Chinese Conversation · Level 80
91 words
Chinese word
出口成章
Pronunciation
Pinyinchū kǒu chéng zhāng
Meaning
- idiombe articulate
Example
他出口成章，说话很有条理。tā chū kǒu chéng zhāng shuō huà hěn yǒu tiáo lǐ
He is articulate, and his speech is very well organized.
More examples
在辩论会上，她出口成章，说服了很多听众。zài biàn lùn huì shàng tā chū kǒu chéng zhāng shuō fú le hěn duō tīng zhòng
At the debate, she spoke eloquently and persuaded many listeners.
Core concept
A speaker turns a thought into a clear, finished passage in real time.
Common phrases
他出口成章tā chū kǒu chéng zhāng
be articulate
出口成章地说话chū kǒu chéng zhāng dì shuō huà
speak eloquently
Similar words
能言善辩néng yán shàn biàn: Express ideas clearly and persuasively, using reasoned speech to convince others.
口齿伶俐kóu chǐ líng lì: Speak with clear pronunciation and a smooth, fluent delivery.
侃侃而谈kán kǎn ér tán: Talk calmly and confidently at length while making each point clear.
Definition in Chinese
指即兴或在对话中能立刻说出完整、有条理的话，常带褒义。zhǐ jí xìng huò zài duì huà zhōng néng lì kè shuō chū wán zhěng yǒu tiáo lǐ de huà cháng dài bāo yì
Word origin
出口成章 (chūkǒuchéngzhāng, "speech becomes a well-formed composition as it leaves the mouth") extends the older image of a polished written passage to skillful spontaneous speaking.
Usage tips
- The idiom can praise an unprepared answer that is clear and well organized, so length or speaking speed alone is not what it praises.
Other meanings
- be eloquentidiom
- speak fluentlyidiom
Opposites
- 语无伦次yǔ wú lún cìspeak incoherentlyidiom
- 支支吾吾zhī zhī wú wúmumbleidiom