Something is so obvious that it doesn't need to be said.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Self-evident; goes without saying.
- Implies obviousness needing no explanation.
- Common in formal and everyday Chinese.
Overview
“不言而喻” (bù yán ér yù) 是一个常用的汉语成语，字面意思是“不用说就能够明白”。它用来形容某件事情或某个道理非常明显，以至于不需要言语就能被理解。这个成语强调的是事物的显而易见性，以及沟通中的默契和共识。
“不言而喻”通常用作谓语、定语或状语。作为谓语时，它直接描述某事物是显而易见的；作为定语时，它修饰名词，表示该事物是理所当然的；作为状语时，它修饰动词，表示某事是无需多言即可发生的。在现代汉语中，它常常出现在书面语和正式场合，但也广泛用于日常交流中，以表达一种确信和无需争辩的语气。
这个成语经常出现在讨论事实真相、普遍认同的原则、显而易见的逻辑关系或某种心照不宣的默契的语境中。例如，在讨论公平正义时，可以说“公平竞争是体育精神的基石，这一点不言而喻”。在描述人际关系时，可以说“他们之间的深厚友谊，通过一次次互相扶持，早已不言而喻”。在科技或商业领域，也可能用于强调某个技术优势或市场规律的明显性。
指不需要证明就能够明白。与“不言而喻”相似，但“不证自明”更强调无需证据或论证，而“不言而喻”则更强调无需言语解释。
与“不言而喻”意思非常接近，都表示明显容易看出来。但“显而易见”更侧重于视觉或感官上的明显，而“不言而喻”更侧重于通过理性思考或常识就能明白。
表示不需要怀疑。它侧重于消除疑虑，强调确定性，而“不言而喻”侧重于事情本身就是显而易见的，不需要怀疑是其结果。
表示按道理说应当如此，强调事情的合乎情理和必然性。它比“不言而喻”更强调“应该”的意味，而“不言而喻”则更强调“明白”的程度。
Examples
在竞争激烈的市场中，创新是企业生存和发展的关键，这一点不言而喻。
businessIn a highly competitive market, innovation is key to a company's survival and development; this is self-evident.
父母对子女的爱，是世界上最无私的情感，这种爱不言而喻。
general/emotionalThe love of parents for their children is the most selfless emotion in the world; this love goes without saying.
他讲得这么清楚，答案是什么，简直不言而喻。
everyday conversationHe explained it so clearly, the answer is practically self-evident.
在科学研究中，实事求是的基本原则不言而喻。
academicIn scientific research, the fundamental principle of seeking truth from facts is self-evident.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
不言而喻的道理
Self-evident principle
其重要性不言而喻
Its importance is self-evident
这不言而喻
This is self-evident
Often Confused With
'显而易见' (xiǎn ér yì jiàn) means 'obvious' or 'clear to the eye'. It often emphasizes visual or easily perceivable evidence. '不言而喻' emphasizes that something is understood without needing verbal explanation, often based on logic or common sense.
'理所当然' (lǐ suǒ dāng rán) means 'as it should be' or 'natural and right'. It emphasizes the justification or appropriateness of something. While often self-evident, the focus is on its correctness rather than just its obviousness.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
This idiom is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but leans towards more formal or emphatic speech. It's best used when the point being made is genuinely obvious to the intended audience. Using it for something debatable can undermine its effectiveness.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using '不言而喻' for something that is actually subtle or requires explanation. Another is incorrect sentence structure, such as placing it awkwardly. Ensure the context truly supports the idea of self-evidence.
Tips
Emphasize Obvious Truths
Use '不言而喻' when stating something universally understood or logically clear. It adds weight to your assertion by highlighting its self-evident nature.
Avoid Overuse
While useful, overuse can make your language sound repetitive or even condescending if the audience doesn't find the point as obvious as you do.
Shared Understanding
The concept behind '不言而喻' reflects a cultural value placed on implicit understanding and shared knowledge within groups, reducing the need for explicit communication.
Word Origin
The idiom originates from classical Chinese texts. '不' means not, '言' means speak, '而' is a conjunction, and '喻' means to understand or be clear about. Together, it literally means 'not speaking yet understood'.
Cultural Context
The idiom reflects a cultural appreciation for implicit communication and shared understanding, where much can be conveyed or understood without explicit verbalization, especially among those with shared backgrounds or knowledge.
Memory Tip
Imagine a situation so clear, you don't even need to speak ('不言') for the truth to become apparent ('而喻'). Think of a universally known fact like the sun rising in the east.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“不言而喻”最常作谓语，例如“他的功劳不言而喻”。也可以作定语修饰名词，如“这是不言而喻的道理”。此外，它还可以作状语，表示某事是显而易见的。
两者意思相近，都表示明显。但“显而易见”更侧重于直观的、容易看到的明显，而“不言而喻”更侧重于通过常识、逻辑或情理就能明白的明显，常常带有无需解释的意味。
使用“不言而喻”时，要确保所描述的事实或道理确实是普遍认同或显而易见的，否则可能显得武断或不恰当。它通常用于加强语气，表示一种不容置疑的确定性。
“不言而喻”既可用于正式的书面语，如文章、报告，也可用于口语交流，尤其是在需要强调某点非常明显、无需多费口舌的情况下。但在非常随意的聊天中，可能稍显正式。
Test Yourself
在现代社会，保护环境的重要性是________的。
这句话强调保护环境的重要性是大家普遍认同且无需多言就能明白的道理，用“不言而喻”最贴切。
以下哪个句子正确使用了“不言而喻”？
选项c描述了信任作为团队合作基础的普遍性和显而易见性，符合“不言而喻”的用法。选项a语序不当，应为“他的努力不言而喻，因此他成功了”或“他的努力是显而易见的，所以他成功了”。选项b“难度不言而喻”不自然，应为“难度很大”或“难度显而易见”。选项d“项目不言而喻”搭配不当。
用“不言而喻”描述一个显而易见的道理，情境：人与人之间的尊重。
选项a将“不言而喻”放在句末作谓语，直接点明“人与人之间的尊重”这一道理是显而易见的，结构自然流畅。
Score: /3
Summary
Something is so obvious that it doesn't need to be said.
- Self-evident; goes without saying.
- Implies obviousness needing no explanation.
- Common in formal and everyday Chinese.
Emphasize Obvious Truths
Use '不言而喻' when stating something universally understood or logically clear. It adds weight to your assertion by highlighting its self-evident nature.
Avoid Overuse
While useful, overuse can make your language sound repetitive or even condescending if the audience doesn't find the point as obvious as you do.
Shared Understanding
The concept behind '不言而喻' reflects a cultural value placed on implicit understanding and shared knowledge within groups, reducing the need for explicit communication.
Examples
4 of 4在竞争激烈的市场中，创新是企业生存和发展的关键，这一点不言而喻。
In a highly competitive market, innovation is key to a company's survival and development; this is self-evident.
父母对子女的爱，是世界上最无私的情感，这种爱不言而喻。
The love of parents for their children is the most selfless emotion in the world; this love goes without saying.
他讲得这么清楚，答案是什么，简直不言而喻。
He explained it so clearly, the answer is practically self-evident.
在科学研究中，实事求是的基本原则不言而喻。
In scientific research, the fundamental principle of seeking truth from facts is self-evident.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
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