七嘴八舌
七嘴八舌 (qī zuǐ bā shé) literally means “seven mouths eight tongues” and expresses “everyone talking at once; lively discussion”. 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: qi zui ba she, qi zui ba she,七嘴八舌 meaning, 七嘴八舌 in english
Everyone talking at once; lively discussion
Pronunciation: qī zuǐ bā shé
Literal meaning: Seven mouths eight tongues
Origin & Usage
This idiom uses the numbers seven (七) and eight (八), which in Chinese often suggest 'many' or 'various,' combined with mouths (嘴) and tongues (舌) to describe multiple people talking simultaneously. The phrase emerged during the Ming Dynasty in colloquial literature depicting lively scenes of debate or gossip. It captures the chaos and energy of multiple voices competing to be heard. Modern usage describes animated group discussions, often with a slightly chaotic or noisy connotation.
Examples
English: "Everyone was talking at once, offering different opinions."
Chinese: 大家七嘴八舌，各抒己见。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 七嘴八舌 mean in English?
七嘴八舌 (qī zuǐ bā shé) literally translates to “Seven mouths eight tongues” and is used to express “Everyone talking at once; lively discussion”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 七嘴八舌 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving everyone talking at once; lively discussion.
What is the pinyin for 七嘴八舌?
The pinyin pronunciation for 七嘴八舌 is “qī zuǐ bā shé”.