言辞

• Pinyin: yán cí
• Hanzi breakdown: 言 = 口 (mouth) + horizontal lines (representing sound waves — speech emerging from the mouth); 辞 = 舌 (tongue) + 辛 (hardship/toil — suggesting the labour of careful verbal expression)

Meaning

Words; verbal expression; the language and manner in which one speaks. Refers to the specific words chosen and the way they are delivered.

Often focuses on the quality, tone, or appropriateness of language: 言辞激烈 (heated/forceful language), 言辞恳切 (sincere words), 言辞犀利 (sharp/incisive language), 言辞模糊 (vague language). Common in formal writing, news reporting, and diplomatic contexts. More focused on specific wording than 言语 (general speech) or 语言 (language as a system).

Examples

1. 外交部发言人在例行记者会上措辞谨慎，言辞中既表达了立场的坚定，又保留了进一步协商的余地。 At the regular press briefing, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson chose his words carefully, expressing a firm position while still leaving room for further talks.
2. 被告在庭上的言辞前后矛盾，多次被法官提示需如实陈述，却始终无法给出令人信服的解释。 The defendant’s statements in court contradicted each other, and despite repeated reminders from the judge to tell the truth, he still could not provide a convincing explanation.
3. 他在批评下属时注意把握分寸，言辞中肯而不失尖锐，既指出了问题的实质又保全了对方的面子。 When criticizing a subordinate, he was careful to keep a sense of proportion; his words were fair yet sharp, pinpointing the core problem while still preserving the other person’s dignity.

Usage Guide

Context: diplomacy, law, journalism, rhetoric

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 谈判代表的言辞虽然礼貌克制，但字里行间透露出的强硬立场却使对方感受到了不小的外交压力。(Although the negotiator's words were polite and restrained, the firm stance conveyed between the lines exerted considerable diplomatic pressure on the other party.)
• 这位作家在接受采访时言辞犀利，直接点名批评了当下文坛普遍存在的浮躁风气和商业化倾向。(During the interview, the writer spoke with sharp incisiveness, directly naming and criticising the widespread restlessness and commercial tendency that currently pervades the literary world.)

Don't Say

• 他的言辞不够多 — 言辞 refers to the quality and manner of verbal expression, not quantity; for someone who does not talk much say 他话不多 or 他言语不多; 言辞多 is unnatural

Origin & History

言 (speech/word) + 辞 (words/expression/to resign) — the specific words and expressions one chooses in speech

Cultural Context

Era: Classical/Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated/professional