口干舌燥
口干舌燥 (kǒu gān shé zào) literally means “mouth dry tongue parched” and expresses “exhausted from excessive talking”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: kou gan she zao, kou gan she zao,口干舌燥 meaning, 口干舌燥 in english
Exhausted from excessive talking
Pronunciation: kǒu gān shé zào
Literal meaning: Mouth dry tongue parched
Origin & Usage
This physical idiom describes a dry (干) mouth (口) and parched (燥) tongue (舌), originating from Tang Dynasty medical texts. It initially appeared in clinical descriptions of febrile diseases where dehydration produced these uncomfortable symptoms. During the Song Dynasty, it expanded beyond medical contexts to describe the exhaustion of speakers after lengthy orations, particularly common among examination candidates required to recite classical texts from memory. The specific symptoms were meaningful as public speaking was central to scholarly and official life in imperial China. Modern usage primarily describes the physical sensation after extended talking, but can also metaphorically suggest verbal exhaustion after explaining something repeatedly or extensively.
Examples
English: "After speaking for three hours, the presenter needed water desperately"
Chinese: 讲了三个小时后，演讲者迫切需要水
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 口干舌燥 mean in English?
口干舌燥 (kǒu gān shé zào) literally translates to “Mouth dry tongue parched” and is used to express “Exhausted from excessive talking”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 口干舌燥 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving exhausted from excessive talking.
What is the pinyin for 口干舌燥?
The pinyin pronunciation for 口干舌燥 is “kǒu gān shé zào”.