胡说八道
胡说八道 (hú shuō bā dào) literally means “reckless speak eight ways” and expresses “talk complete nonsense without any foundation”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: hu shuo ba dao, hu shuo ba dao,胡说八道 meaning, 胡说八道 in english
Talk complete nonsense without any foundation
Pronunciation: hú shuō bā dào Literal meaning: Reckless speak eight ways
Origin & Usage
Ming Dynasty vernacular speech gave us this colorful description of reckless speaking (胡说) scattered in eight directions (八道). Qing Dynasty scholars used it to criticize statements completely disconnected from evidence or logic. The image of words scattered in all directions perfectly captured the chaos of unfounded assertions. Modern usage spans from conspiracy theories to any confidently stated nonsense.
When to Use
Situation: The conspiracy theorist's explanation lacked any factual foundation
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 胡说八道 mean in English?
胡说八道 (hú shuō bā dào) literally translates to “Reckless speak eight ways” and is used to express “Talk complete nonsense without any foundation”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 胡说八道 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving talk complete nonsense without any foundation.
What is the pinyin for 胡说八道?
The pinyin pronunciation for 胡说八道 is “hú shuō bā dào”.