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顧左右而言他. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
顧左右而言他, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
顧左右而言他 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
顧左右而言他 you have here. The definition of the word
顧左右而言他 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
顧左右而言他, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
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look after; take into consideration; to attend to
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left and right; left and right sides; both sides
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and; as well as; but (not) and; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state); (shows contrast) |
to speak; to say; talk to speak; to say; talk; word |
he; him; other
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| trad. (顧左右而言他)
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顧
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左右
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而
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言
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他
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| simp. (顾左右而言他)
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顾
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左右
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而
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言
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他
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| alternative forms
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王顧左右而言他／王顾左右而言他
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| Literally: “to look left and right, then talk about something else”.
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Etymology
From Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王下》):
Pronunciation
Idiom
顧左右而言他
- to try to change the subject of a conversation; to evade the subject under discussion and talk about other affairs; to steer clear of the crucial point
於是，他用眼角的餘光掃視了一下四周，發現旁邊太監也紛紛向他使眼色，便顧左右而言他，用「人自然是怕鬼」的話敷衍了事。 [MSC, trad.]
于是，他用眼角的余光扫视了一下四周，发现旁边太监也纷纷向他使眼色，便顾左右而言他，用「人自然是怕鬼」的话敷衍了事。 [MSC, simp.]- From: 2011, 余建明, 《關於地理學的100個故事》 (100 Stories of Geography), page 129
- Yúshì, tā yòng yǎnjiǎo de yúguāng sǎoshì le yīxià sìzhōu, fāxiàn pángbiān tàijiān yě fēnfēn xiàng tā shǐ yǎnsè, biàn gù zuǒyòu ér yán tā, yòng “rén zìrán shì pà guǐ” de huà fūyǎn liǎoshì.
- Thus, he scanned the surroundings with his peripheral vision and discovered that the eunuch beside him kept winking at him, so he tried to dodge the question and ended the discussion perfunctorily by saying, "People are naturally afraid of ghosts."
Synonyms