拐弯抹角 guǎi wān mò jiǎo beat around the bush

Explanation

比喻说话绕弯子，不直截了当。

It means to speak indirectly or circuitously, without getting straight to the point.

Origin Story

从前，在一个小山村里住着一位老农，他有一块地种着许多瓜果。一天，老农的邻居老王来串门，老农热情地招待了他。席间，老王指着老农的瓜果说："你的瓜果长得真好，我家的地里种的却不如你的好。"老农笑着说："那都是因为我种地的方法与众不同。"老王一听来了兴趣，就问："你种地的秘诀是什么？能不能告诉我？"老农神秘一笑，说："这个秘诀啊，说起来话长，得从我年轻的时候说起……",

cóng qián, zài yīgè xiǎo shān cūn lǐ zhù zhe yī wèi lǎo nóng, tā yǒu yī kuài dì zhòng zhe xǔduō guā guǒ。yī tiān, lǎo nóng de línjū lǎo wáng lái chuàn mén, lǎo nóng rèqíng de zhāodài le tā。xí jiān, lǎo wáng zhǐ zhe lǎo nóng de guā guǒ shuō: ‘nǐ de guā guǒ zhǎng de zhēn hǎo, wǒ jiā de dì lǐ zhòng de què bù rú nǐ de hǎo。’ lǎo nóng xiào zhe shuō: ‘nà dōu shì yīnwèi wǒ zhòng dì de fāngfǎ yǔ zhòng bù tóng。’ lǎo wáng yī tīng lái le xìngqù, jiù wèn: ‘nǐ zhòng dì de mìjué shì shénme? néng bù néng gàosù wǒ？’ lǎo nóng shénmì yī xiào, shuō: ‘zhège mìjué a, shuō qǐ lái huà cháng, děi cóng wǒ nián qīng de shíhòu shuō qǐ……’

Once upon a time, there was an old farmer in a small mountain village who had a piece of land where he grew many fruits and vegetables. One day, the farmer's neighbor, Lao Wang, came to visit, and the farmer welcomed him warmly. During their chat, Lao Wang pointed to the farmer's produce and said, "Your fruits and vegetables are growing so well, but the ones in my field are not as good."

Usage

用于形容说话不直截了当，绕弯子。

yòng yú xiáoshù shuō huà bù zhí jié le dāng, rào wānzǐ

Used to describe someone who doesn't speak directly but beats around the bush.

Examples

  • 他说话总是拐弯抹角，让人很难听懂。

    tā shuō huà zǒng shì guǎi wān mò jiǎo, ràng rén hěn nán tīng dǒng。

    He always speaks indirectly, making it difficult to understand him.

  • 这个问题不要拐弯抹角，直接说重点吧。

    zhège wèntí bùyào guǎi wān mò jiǎo, zhíjiē shuō zhòngdiǎn ba。

    Let's not beat around the bush; let's get to the point.

  • 会议上，他拐弯抹角地表达了对这个方案的不满。

    huìyì shàng, tā guǎi wān mò jiǎo de biǎodá le duì zhège fāng'àn de bù mǎn

    At the meeting, he indirectly expressed his dissatisfaction with the proposal.

Related Idioms

  • 委婉

  • 含蓄

Opposite Idioms

  • 直截了当

  • 开门见山