三言两句 sān yán liǎng jù three words, two sentences

Explanation

指几句话，形容话很少。

Refers to a few words, describing few words.

Origin Story

从前，有个秀才去赶考，路上遇到一位老农。老农问他去哪，秀才便将自己赶考的事，以及自己的抱负、理想、对未来的期许等等，滔滔不绝地说了个没完。老农听后，只说了句：“三言两句，便知你志向远大！”秀才听后，不禁哑然失笑。

cóng qián, yǒu gè xiù cái qù gǎn kǎo, lù shàng yù dào yī wèi lǎo nóng. lǎo nóng wèn tā qù nǎ, xiù cái biàn jiāng zì jǐ gǎn kǎo de shì, yǐ jí zì jǐ de bàofù, lǐxiǎng, duì wèi lái de qíxǔ děng děng, tāo tāo bù jué de shuō le gè méi wán. lǎo nóng tīng hòu, zhǐ shuō le jù: “sān yán liǎng jù, biàn zhī nǐ zhìxiàng yuǎndà!” xiù cái tīng hòu, bù jīn yǎrán shī xiào.

Once upon a time, a scholar went to take an exam and met an old farmer on the road. The farmer asked him where he was going, and the scholar began to talk incessantly about his exam, his ambitions, ideals, and expectations for the future. After listening, the farmer simply said, “A few words, and I know you have great aspirations!” The scholar couldn’t help but smile.

Usage

多用于口语，形容说话简明扼要。

duō yòng yú kǒuyǔ, xiárong shuō huà jiǎn míng è yào

Mostly used in spoken language, describing that something is said briefly and concisely.

Examples

• 事情的经过，他三言两句就说清楚了。

  shì qing de jīng guò, tā sān yán liǎng jù jiù shuō qīng chu le.

  He explained the whole thing in a few words.

• 他三言两句就把事情的来龙去脉解释清楚了。

  tā sān yán liǎng jù jiù bǎ shì qing de lái lóng qù mài jiě shì qīng chu le。

  He explained the ins and outs of the matter in a few words.

Related Idioms

• 三言两语

• 一语中的

Opposite Idioms

• 长篇大论

• 滔滔不绝