夸夸其谈

Pronunciation: kuā kuā qí tán
Literal meaning: Talk big and empty

Origin & Usage

This critical idiom emerged during the Warring States period when advisors would boast (夸) excessively (夸) in their (其) speeches (谈). Historical accounts describe how certain ministers would make grand promises but deliver little results. The repetition of '夸' emphasizes the emptiness of such speech. The phrase gained renewed relevance during the Ming Dynasty when scholar-officials criticized the trend of style over substance in examination essays. Today, it's often used to describe corporate jargon, political rhetoric, or any discourse that favors grandiose expression over meaningful content.

Examples

English: "The consultant made grand promises but delivered little results"

Chinese: 这位顾问说得天花乱坠，但几乎没有实际成果

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