话匣子

話匣子

huàxiázi

noun #35,032

Measure Word

一个话匣子 gè

Meanings

1 chatterbox
2 talkative person
3 phonograph or radio (old term)

Characters

small box, casket

Examples

她一喝酒就打开话匣子，停不下来。

Tā yī hē jiǔ jiù dǎkāi huàxiázi, tíng bù xiàlái.

Once she has a drink she opens the floodgates and won't stop talking.

我奶奶是个话匣子。

Wǒ nǎinai shì ge huàxiázi.

My grandma is a real chatterbox.

Tips

history

Originally 话匣子 ('talk-box') meant a phonograph or early radio in 1920s–30s Beijing slang — a box that talked. The meaning shifted by metaphor to anyone who, once started, can't stop. The set phrase 打开话匣子 ('open the talk-box') is the most common collocation.

Stroke Order

话 huà

匣 xiá

子 zǐ