磨破嘴皮子

mópòzuǐpízi

idiom

Meanings

HSK 6

我磨破嘴皮子他都不听。

Wǒ mópò zuǐpízi tā dōu bù tīng.

I talked until I was blue in the face but he still wouldn't listen.

HSK 6

为了说服客户，他几乎磨破了嘴皮子。

Wèile shuōfú kèhù, tā jīhū mópò le zuǐpízi.

To convince the client, he practically talked himself hoarse.

memory

Picture it literally: 磨破 ('to grind through') + 嘴皮子 ('lip-skin') - talking so much you wear holes in your own lips. Vivid and easy to remember.

Colloquial. Always carries a tone of frustration - the speaker tried hard and still failed.

磨 mó

破 pò

嘴 zuǐ

皮 pí

子 zǐ