一言难尽

Pronunciation: yī yán nán jìn Literal meaning: Difficult to express in words

Origin & Usage

The idiom 一言难尽 (yī yán nán jìn) is commonly used in classical Chinese to express situations or feelings that are too complex or nuanced to be conveyed in a single sentence. While its exact origin is not tied to a specific historical text or event, the phrase paints a vivid picture of the limitations of language in capturing the full depth of certain experiences. The characters 一 (yī, one), 言 (yán, word), 难 (nán, difficult), and 尽 (jìn, exhaust) collectively suggest the idea that some matters are 'difficult to fully express in words.' In modern usage, this idiom is often employed when discussing intricate emotions, complicated situations, or stories that require more than a brief explanation to be fully understood.

Examples

English: "The situation was so complex that it was hard to summarize in a single statement."

Chinese: 这个情况复杂，一言难尽。