Definition
花言巧语 is a four-character idiom (chengyu) that refers to sweet but deceitful speech — flattery or promises made to manipulate someone. The literal meaning ('flower words, clever phrases') gives the flavor, but the real force is negative: it's the kind of talk you hear from a con artist or a dishonest salesperson. Unlike 'blandishments' in English, 花言巧语 always carries a judgment of insincerity.
f.e.
sweet talkdeceptive flatteryhoneyed words meant to trick someone
Examples
- 花言巧语，。Bú yào xiāngxìn tā de huā yán qiǎo yǔ, tā zhǐ shì zài piàn nǐ.Don't believe his sweet talk — he's just trying to trick you.
- 花言巧语。Nàxiē xiāoshòuyuán yòng huā yán qiǎo yǔ shuōfú gùkè mǎi le bù xūyào de dōngxi.Those salespeople used sweet talk to convince customers to buy things they didn't need.
- 花言巧语，。Wǒ zǎo jiù tīng gòu le tā de huā yán qiǎo yǔ, zài yě bú huì xiāngxìn le.I've long had enough of his sweet talk and will never believe it again.
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