Chinese Idiom: 立谈之间 (Li Tan Zhi Jian)
English Translation: In the time it takes to stand and talk
pīn yīn: lì tán zhī jiān
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a very brief period of time, equivalent to the short duration of standing and chatting.
Historical Source: Su Shi’s (苏轼) essay “Jia Yi Lun” (《贾谊论》) during the Northern Song Dynasty.
Idiom Story:
Jia Yi, a prominent politician and writer of the early Western Han Dynasty, was known for his notable works and reform proposals. Despite his talents and contributions, he faced opposition from established officials like Zhou Bo and Guan Ying, which prevented him from attaining significant political power. Jia Yi was eventually marginalized and lived a sorrowful life, dying young at the age of thirty-three.
Historians and critics have traditionally sympathized with Jia Yi’s misfortune. However, Su Shi, in his essay “Jia Yi Lun,” critiqued Jia Yi’s failure, suggesting it stemmed from his impatience and narrow-mindedness. Su Shi noted that Jia Yi, who was just a young man from Luoyang, expected the emperor to immediately abandon old policies and adopt new ones, which was unrealistic. Su Shi argued that Jia Yi could have gained the trust of the emperor and the support of influential officials by building relationships gradually, thus achieving his goals within ten years.
Su Shi remarked on Jia Yi’s impatience and inability to handle adversity. He criticized Jia Yi for his sudden and excessive emotional response, as illustrated by his sorrowful writing “Ode to Qu Yuan” (《吊屈原赋》) while passing through the Xiang River, reflecting his inner turmoil and desire to retreat from public life. Su Shi lamented that Jia Yi’s tendency to fall into despair and cry over his misfortunes was indicative of his inability to manage difficult situations effectively.
From this critique, the phrase “安有立谈之间” (which translates to “how can one cry over matters in such a short time?”) was condensed into the idiom “立谈之间,” illustrating the notion of a very brief span of time.
