Definition
只言片语 is a four-character set phrase (成语) meaning 'just a word or two' or 'a few fragmentary remarks'. It describes extremely brief, incomplete, or scattered bits of speech or writing — the opposite of a full, detailed account. You often see it in patterns like '留下只言片语' (leave behind just a few words) or '听到只言片语' (pick up fragments of conversation). It carries a sense that the information is too scant to give a full picture.
f.e.
a few wordsfragmentary remarksa briefincomplete statement
Examples
- 只言片语，。Tā zǒu zhīqián zhǐ liúxià zhǐ yán piàn yǔ, shuí yě bù zhīdào tā qù le nǎlǐ.He left only a few words before leaving; nobody knows where he went.
- 只言片语，。Wǒ cóng tāmen de duìhuà zhōng zhǐ tīngdào zhǐ yán piàn yǔ, méi fǎ pànduàn fāshēng le shénme.I only caught fragments of their conversation and couldn't tell what happened.
- ，只言片语。Zhè piān wénzhāng xiě de hánhu bù qīng, zhǐyǒu zhǐ yán piàn yǔ kěyǐ lǐjiě.This article is vague and unclear; only a few isolated words are understandable.
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