侃侃而谈

侃侃而談

kǎnkǎn'értán

idiom #57,824

Meanings

1 to speak with ease and confidence
2 to talk with composure and assurance
3 to hold forth eloquently

Characters

composed; unhurried

Examples

HSK 3

面对记者，她侃侃而谈。

Miànduì jìzhě, tā kǎnkǎn'értán.

Facing the reporters, she held forth with confidence.

HSK 6

他在会议上侃侃而谈，赢得了大家的掌声。

Tā zài huìyì shàng kǎnkǎn'értán, yíngdé le dàjiā de zhǎngshēng.

He spoke with confidence and ease at the meeting, earning everyone's applause.

HSK 7-9

这位专家侃侃而谈，条理清晰。

Zhè wèi zhuānjiā kǎnkǎn'értán, tiáolǐ qīngxī.

The expert spoke fluently and clearly.

Tips

history

Rooted in 《论语·乡党》 describing Confucius at court: 与下大夫言，侃侃如也 - 'when speaking with lower ministers, he was composed and unhurried.' 侃侃 denoted a calm, upright composure. The fuller form 侃侃而谈 came later to mean the same confident-eloquent speech.

register

Strongly positive - praises composed eloquence. Describes presentations, interviews, speeches. Contrast 滔滔不绝 (talk endlessly, neutral to slightly negative) and 夸夸其谈 (bombastic and empty, strongly negative).

Stroke Order

侃 kǎn

而 ér

谈 tán