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.]

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 ㄍㄨㄢㄙㄜˋ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: cháyánguānsè
  - Zhuyin: ㄔㄚˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄢㄙㄜˋ
  - 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

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