有口无心

• Pinyin: yǒu kǒu wú xīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 有 = have/possess; 口 = mouth (pictograph); 无 = without/nothing; 心 = heart/mind (pictograph of a heart)

Meaning

Saying things without really meaning them; speaking without malicious intent. Describes someone who speaks carelessly or bluntly but harbors no ill will.

Used to excuse or describe someone's words as unintentional rather than deliberately hurtful. Often used as an exculpatory explanation. Also applies to someone who speaks their mind without guile, which can be seen as authentic. Contrasts with 口蜜腹剑 (sweet words with a hidden dagger) and 言不由衷 (saying what one does not mean).

Examples

1. 主管在会上说话有口无心，事后主动道歉，表示并无歧视意图。 The supervisor spoke carelessly in the meeting, then apologized and said he had no discriminatory intent.
2. 老教授说话有口无心，话虽刺耳，却总是真心希望学生进步。 The old professor speaks carelessly; although his words sound harsh, he always sincerely hopes his students improve.
3. 处理家庭矛盾时，要分清对方是有口无心，还是带着明确伤害意图。 When handling family conflicts, you should tell whether the other person spoke carelessly or meant to hurt you.

Usage Guide

Context: interpersonal, communication, psychology

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你别太在意她说的那些话，她就是个有口无心的人，想到什么就说什么，没有任何恶意，实际上她对你评价很高，只是表达方式不太注意场合而已。(Don't take too much to heart what she said — she's someone who speaks without thinking, says whatever comes to mind without any malice; in fact she holds you in high regard, she just doesn't pay enough attention to the appropriate context for her expressions.)
• 即使你一向有口无心，也要知道在职场里一句话可能比你想的更重。(Even if you usually speak carelessly, you should know that in the workplace one sentence may carry more weight than you think.)

Don't Say

• 他有口无心地完成了工作 — 有口无心 refers specifically to careless or well-meaning speech, not to work quality or effort; use 敷衍了事 (perfunctory work) or 漫不经心 (careless) for describing inattentive actions

Origin & History

有口 (having a mouth — speaks words) + 无心 (without heart/intention — 无 none + 心 heart/mind). Literally: has a mouth but no malicious heart. Speaking carelessly without hurtful intent.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal