沉默寡言

Pronunciation: chén mò guǎ yán Literal meaning: Silent and few words

Origin & Usage

Silent (沉默) and sparing of words (寡言). What makes it worth learning is that it is neutral to positive in Chinese where its English equivalents tend not to be. Calling someone taciturn or uncommunicative implies a deficiency; 沉默寡言 more often implies weight, a person who does not speak until there is something to say. It is a normal thing to write in a reference, which 'says very little' would not be.

Examples

English: "His quiet demeanor often led others to underestimate his intelligence."

Chinese: 他的沉默寡言常常让人低估他的智慧。