含糊

• Pinyin: hán hu
• Hanzi breakdown: 含 = 人 (person) + 今 (now) + 口 (mouth) — holding something in the mouth; 糊 = 米 (rice) + 胡 (muddled) — rice paste, blurred

Meaning

Vague; ambiguous — unclear in expression or intention.

Describes language, attitudes, or answers that lack precision or commitment. 含糊其辞 (to speak vaguely) is a common four-character extension. In negative constructions, 不含糊 means decisive, capable, or impressive — a contrasting colloquial usage.

Examples

1. 他在回答记者提问时措辞含糊，刻意回避了几个最关键的政策细节。 When answering reporters' questions, he used vague wording and deliberately avoided several of the most critical policy details.
2. 合同条款不应含糊，双方权利与义务必须明确规定，以免日后产生争议。 Contract terms should not be ambiguous; both parties' rights and obligations must be clearly defined to avoid future disputes.
3. 别看她平时低调，在关键时刻做起决定来一点都不含糊，果断而有力。 Don't be fooled by how low-key she is—when it comes to making decisions at crucial moments, she's not vague at all, but decisive and forceful.

Usage Guide

Context: communication, law, journalism, everyday

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 谈判代表在关键条款上措辞含糊，刻意留有余地，令对方感到难以把握其真实立场。(The negotiator was deliberately vague in the wording of key clauses, leaving room for manoeuvre in a way that made it hard for the other side to gauge the real position.)
• 她处理突发危机的能力极强，从来不含糊，总能在最短时间内做出准确判断并付诸行动。(Her ability to handle sudden crises is outstanding — she is never indecisive, always making accurate judgements and acting on them in the shortest possible time.)

Don't Say

• 含糊 for intentionally polite indirectness — 含糊 is negative; for culturally appropriate indirectness use 委婉 or 措辞谨慎

Origin & History

含 (to hold in mouth, to contain) + 糊 (paste, muddled) — holding muddiness in one's mouth; speaking indistinctly

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal