巧言令色

Chinese

		clever but deceptive talk	kind look; sycophantic expression
trad. (巧言令色)		巧言	令色
simp. #(巧言令色)		巧言	令色

Etymology

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.]

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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.]

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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

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): qiǎoyánlìngsè

  (Zhuyin): ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄜˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): haau² jin⁴ ling⁶ sik¹

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• 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

巧言令色

1. with flourishing words and friendly countenance; with insincere courtesy

Descendants

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)

See also

• 巧言令色，鮮矣仁／巧言令色，鲜矣仁 (qiǎoyánlìngsè, xiǎnyǐrén)