不言而喻

bù yán ér yù

it goes without saying; it is self-evident

HSK 6

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"不言而喻" is a formal Chinese idiom meaning "it goes without saying" or "it is self-evident." It is used to express that something is so obvious that it does not need to be explained.

Contexts

This phrase is often used in written and formal spoken Chinese, such as in news reports, speeches, or serious discussions. It emphasizes the clarity or undeniability of a fact or situation.

Common Collocations

Usage Tips

When using 不言而喻, the subject is usually something widely recognized or logically clear. Avoid using it for subjective opinions or uncertain facts. It often appears in the middle or at the end of a sentence to conclude a statement.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse 不言而喻 with phrases like 明显 (obvious) or 显然 (evident), which are adjectives. 不言而喻 is an idiomatic expression emphasizing that explanation is unnecessary because the fact is universally accepted.

Example Sentences

他的努力和成绩不言而喻,大家都很佩服他。

Tā de nǔlì hé chéngjì bù yán ér yù, dàjiā dōu hěn pèifú tā.

His hard work and achievements go without saying; everyone admires him.

这件事的重要性不言而喻,我们必须马上处理。

Zhè jiàn shì de zhòngyào xìng bù yán ér yù, wǒmen bìxū mǎshàng chǔlǐ.

The importance of this matter is self-evident; we must handle it

他不参加会议的原因不言而喻,大家都知道。

Tā bù cānjiā huìyì de yuányīn bù yán ér yù, dàjiā dōu zhīdào.

The reason he didn’t attend the meeting is obvious; everyone knows it.

在这种情况下,风险不言而喻,我们必须非常小心。

Zài zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng xià, fēngxiǎn bù yán ér yù, wǒmen bìxū fēicháng

In this situation, the risks are obvious; we must be very careful.