有口无心

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

Significado

Decir cosas sin mala intención; hablar sin pensar.

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).

Ejemplos

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。
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。
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。

Guía de uso

Contexto: interpersonal, communication, psychology

Tono: neutral

Correcto

• 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.)

Incorrecto

• 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

Origen e historia

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.

Contexto cultural

Generación: All ages

Contexto social: Universal