拐弯抹角(拐彎抹角)
拐弯抹角 (guǎi wān mò jiǎo) literally means “turn corners wipe angles”and expresses “speak or act in deliberately indirect manner”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships & character.
Also searched as: guai wan mo jiao, guai wan mo jiao,拐弯抹角 meaning, 拐弯抹角 in english
Pronunciation: guǎi wān mò jiǎo Literal meaning: Turn corners wipe angles
Origin & Usage
Ming Dynasty urban guides first used this phrase to describe physical paths that turn corners (拐弯) and smooth angles (抹角). Qing Dynasty diplomatic writing adopted it for conversational indirectness. The spatial metaphor perfectly captured how communication can avoid direct routes while still reaching its destination. Today it describes any deliberately indirect approach, whether in diplomacy or personal requests.
When to Use
Situation: Instead of directly asking for a raise, he spoke vaguely about compensation and market rates
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 拐弯抹角 mean in English?
拐弯抹角 (guǎi wān mò jiǎo) literally translates to “Turn corners wipe angles”and is used to express “Speak or act in deliberately indirect manner”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theRelationships & Character category..
When is 拐弯抹角 used?
Situation: Instead of directly asking for a raise, he spoke vaguely about compensation and market rates
What is the pinyin for 拐弯抹角?
The pinyin pronunciation for 拐弯抹角 is “guǎi wān mò jiǎo”.