谈虎色变
谈虎色变 (tán hǔ sè biàn) literally means “speak of the tiger, face changes” and expresses “turn pale at the mere mention of it”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: tan hu se bian, tan hu se bian,谈虎色变 meaning, 谈虎色变 in english
Turn pale at the mere mention of it
Pronunciation: tán hǔ sè biàn Literal meaning: Speak of the tiger, face changes
Origin & Usage
The Cheng brothers' recorded conversations distinguish knowing about a thing from having met it. Everyone knows tigers are dangerous, they observed, but the man whose face changes (色变) when a tiger (虎) is merely mentioned (谈) is the farmer who was mauled by one. The point is epistemological: his knowledge and yours use the same words and are not the same knowledge. The phrase is used of a fear that is disproportionate on paper and entirely earned in fact.
Examples
English: "Anyone who lived through that crash still changes colour at the word"
Chinese: 经历过那场崩盘的人，至今一提起就变了脸色
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
有声有色
yǒu shēng yǒu sè
Vivid and lively
Learn more →
高谈阔论
gāo tán kuò lùn
Empty grandiose talk
Learn more →
夸夸其谈
kuā kuā qí tán
All talk no substance
Learn more →
老生常谈
lǎo shēng cháng tán
A stale platitude
Learn more →
察言观色
chá yán guān sè
Read between lines
Learn more →
眉飞色舞
méi fēi sè wǔ
Be animated with excitement
Learn more →
风云突变
fēng yún tū biàn
Sudden dramatic change
Learn more →
千变万化
qiān biàn wàn huà
Ever-changing; constantly varying
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 谈虎色变 mean in English?
谈虎色变 (tán hǔ sè biàn) literally translates to “Speak of the tiger, face changes” and is used to express “Turn pale at the mere mention of it”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 谈虎色变 used?
Situation: Anyone who lived through that crash still changes colour at the word
What is the pinyin for 谈虎色变?
The pinyin pronunciation for 谈虎色变 is “tán hǔ sè biàn”.