Definition
有分寸 literally means 'has a measure' — 分寸 refers to precise measurement in traditional Chinese inches. The phrase describes someone who knows how far to go in speech or action: they have a sense of propriety, tact, and restraint. It is a verb-object phrase (v.o.), so you can insert modifiers: 很有分寸 (very tactful), 没有分寸 (lacking tact), 有一点分寸 (have a little sense). Commonly used to praise someone's social judgment.
v.o.
to have a sense of proprietyto know one's limits in speech and action
Examples
- 有分寸。Tā shuōhuà hěn yǒu fēn cùn.He speaks with a sense of propriety.
- 。Tā zuòshì yǒu yì diǎn fēn cùn.He has a bit of tact in doing things.
- ，有分寸。Zài zhèngshì chǎnghé, nǐ yào yǒu fēn cùn.In formal settings, you need to have a sense of propriety.
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