娓娓而谈

娓娓而談

wěiwěi'értán

idiom

Meanings

1 to speak engagingly and at length
2 to chat tirelessly and fluently

Characters

(in 娓娓) tirelessly; with relish

(reduplicated for effect)

Examples

他对历史如数家珍，娓娓而谈。

Tā duì lìshǐ rúshǔjiāzhēn, wěiwěi'értán.

He knew history inside out and could talk about it engagingly for hours.

她娓娓而谈，听众听得入了神。

Tā wěiwěi'értán, tīngzhòng tīng de rùle shén.

She spoke fluently and engagingly; the audience was rapt.

Tips

history

From Lu Xun (鲁迅), preface to 《中国新文学大系》小说二集: 然而他并不拙笨，却也不矫揉造作，只如熟人相对，娓娓而谈 — describing prose that flows like talking with an old friend.

usage

Reduplicated 娓娓 originally meant 'tirelessly, with relish.' Closely related: 娓娓动听 (wěiwěidòngtīng, 'speaks compellingly enough to hold listeners'). Always positive — implies skill, never tedium.

Stroke Order

娓 wěi

而 ér

谈 tán