巧言令色

Chinese edit

		clever but deceptive talk
trad. (巧言令色)		巧言	令色
simp. ^#(巧言令色)		巧言	令色

Etymology edit

Attested in the Book of Documents (《尚書·皐陶謨》):

能哲而惠，何憂乎驩兜？何遷乎有苗？何畏乎巧言令色孔壬？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]

能哲而惠，何忧乎欢兜？何迁乎有苗？何畏乎巧言令色孔壬？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Book of Documents, circa 4^th – 3^rd century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Néng zhé ér huì, hé yōu hū Huān Dōu? Hé qiān hū Yǒumiáo? Hé wèi hū qiǎoyán lìngsè kǒngrén? [Pinyin]

When he can be (thus) wise and kind, what occasion will he have for anxiety about a Huan-dou? what to be removing a lord of Miao? what to fear any one of fair words, insinuating appearance, and great artfulness?

Also attested in the Analects, Book 1 (《論語·學而》):

子曰：「巧言令色，鮮矣仁！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

子曰：「巧言令色，鲜矣仁！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Zǐ yuē: “Qiǎoyán lìngsè, xiān yǐ rén!” [Pinyin]

The Master said, "Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue."

Pronunciation edit

Mandarin
(Pinyin): qiǎoyánlìngsè

(Zhuyin): ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄜˋ
Cantonese (Jyutping): haau² jin⁴ ling⁶ sik¹

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: qiǎoyánlìngsè
  - Zhuyin: ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄜˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: ciǎoyánlìngsè
  - Wade–Giles: chʻiao³-yen²-ling⁴-sê⁴
  - Yale: chyǎu-yán-lìng-sè
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: cheauyanlinqseh
  - Palladius: цяояньлинсэ (cjaojanʹlinsɛ)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
  - Jyutping: haau² jin⁴ ling⁶ sik¹
  - Yale: háau yìhn lihng sīk
  - Cantonese Pinyin: haau² jin⁴ ling⁶ sik⁷
  - Guangdong Romanization: hao² yin⁴ ling⁶ xig¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /haːu̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ lɪŋ²² sɪk̚⁵/

Idiom edit

巧言令色

with flourishing words and friendly countenance; with insincere courtesy

Descendants edit

Sino-Xenic (巧言令色):

→ Japanese: 巧言令色(こうげんれいしょく) (kōgenreishoku)
→ Korean: 교언영색(巧言令色) (gyoeonyeongsaek)