Chinese word

说曹操，曹操到

Pronunciation

Pinyinshuō cáo cāo cáo cāo dào

Meaning

idiomspeak of the devil

Example

说曹操，曹操到，他马上就来了。shuō cáo cāo cáo cāo dào tā mǎ shàng jiù lái le

Speak of the devil, and he showed up right away.

Illustration for 说曹操，曹操到 (speak of the devil)

More examples

老师举例说，这句说曹操，曹操到用来形容一提到某人他就出现。lǎo shī jǔ lì shuō zhè jù shuō cáo cāo cáo cāo dào yòng lái xíng róng yì tí dào mǒu rén tā jiù chū xiàn

The teacher gave an example: the phrase "speak of the devil" is used when someone appears just after being mentioned.

Core concept

A person's presence or call follows immediately after that person is mentioned.

Common phrases

这句说曹操，曹操到zhè jù shuō cáo cāo cáo cāo dào
the phrase speak of the devil

Definition in Chinese

用来形容刚说到某人，那人就立刻出现或打电话等突然出现的情况。yòng lái xíng róng gāng shuō dào mǒu rén nà rén jiù lì kè chū xiàn huò dǎ diàn huà děng tū rán chū xiàn de qíng kuàng

Word origin

说曹操 (shuōcáocāo, "mention Cao Cao") + 曹操到 (cáocāodào, "Cao Cao arrives") uses a historical figure in a saying about someone appearing just after being mentioned.

Usage tips

The expression has a casual, playful tone, so a neutral description is more suitable than this idiom in formal reports or other serious settings.