察言觀色

See also: 察言观色

Chinese

		examine; inquire; observe examine; inquire; observe; inspect; look into; to examine	to speak; to say; talk to speak; to say; talk; word	to look at; to watch; to observe to look at; to watch; to observe; to behold; Taoist monastery	colour; dice; look colour; dice; look; appearance
trad. (察言觀色)		察	言	觀	色
simp. (察言观色)		察	言	观	色

Etymology

From the Analects, Book 12 (《論語·顏淵》):

夫達也者，質直而好義，察言而觀色，慮以下人。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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夫达也者，质直而好义，察言而观色，虑以下人。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Fú dá yě zhě, zhì zhí ér hào yì, chá yán ér guān sè, lǜ yǐ xià rén. [Pinyin]

The man of distinction is solid and straightforward, and loves righteousness. He examines people's words, and looks at their countenances. He is anxious to humble himself to others.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): cháyánguānsè

  (Zhuyin): ㄔㄚˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄙㄜˋ

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: cháyánguānsè
    • Zhuyin: ㄔㄚˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄙㄜˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: cháyánguansè
    • Wade–Giles: chʻa²-yen²-kuan¹-sê⁴
    • Yale: chá-yán-gwān-sè
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: charyanguanseh
    • Palladius: чаяньгуаньсэ (čajanʹguanʹsɛ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

Idiom

察言觀色

1. to read a person (to interpret or infer a meaning or significance based on facial expression, tone of voice etc)

See also

• 察顏觀色／察颜观色 (cháyánguānsè)