言外之意

yánwàizhīyì

idiom #30,327

Meanings

1 the meaning beyond the words
2 the implication
3 what is unspoken but understood

Characters

outside; beyond

(possessive particle, classical 的)

Examples

HSK 1

你听不出她话里的言外之意吗？

Nǐ tīng bù chū tā huà lǐ de yánwàizhīyì ma?

Can't you hear the unspoken meaning behind what she said?

HSK 4

他的言外之意是希望我们尽快做出决定。

Tā de yánwàizhīyì shì xīwàng wǒmen jǐnkuài zuòchū juédìng.

What he meant beyond the words was that he hopes we make a decision soon.

Tips

usage

Often introduces a paraphrase of the unstated message: 言外之意是 ('What X really means is...').

Stroke Order

言 yán

外 wài

之 zhī

意 yì