口若悬河

口若懸河

kǒuruò-xuánhé

idiom #38,381

Meanings

HSK 3

他一讲起历史就口若悬河。

Tā yī jiǎng qǐ lìshǐ jiù kǒuruòxuánhé.

Once he starts on history, he talks like a waterfall.

HSK 5

面试时他口若悬河，对答如流。

Miànshì shí tā kǒuruòxuánhé, duìdárúliú.

At the interview he was fluent and unstoppable.

history

From 《世说新语·赏誉》: Guo Xiang's speech was said to "pour like a waterfall - unending". 悬河 literally means a river hung in mid-air, i.e. a cataract.

usage

Generally positive (fluent, articulate) but can tip into negative (a non-stop talker) depending on context.

口 kǒu

若 ruò

悬 xuán

河 hé