Meaning
委婉 describes a way of speaking or expressing something that is gentle, indirect, and tactful, often used to avoid being too blunt or causing discomfort. It commonly refers to using softer language to convey potentially sensitive or negative messages.
Usage
Native speakers use 委婉 to describe polite, indirect communication styles, especially when delivering criticism, bad news, or sensitive topics. It's frequently used in phrases like 委婉地说 (to put it tactfully) and is generally viewed positively in Chinese culture, which values harmonious communication. Common in both written and formal spoken contexts.
Examples
- 01她用很委婉的方式告诉他这个坏消息。.She told him the bad news in a very tactful way.
- 02他委婉地拒绝了我的邀请。.He tactfully declined my invitation.
Characters
Common collocations
- 委婉地说to put it tactfully
- 委婉拒绝to decline tactfully
- 措辞委婉tactful wording
- 态度委婉tactful manner
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters convey gentleness and indirectness: 委 suggests something winding or not straightforward, while 婉 (with the female radical 女) originally meant graceful or refined, particularly in manner or speech.