Chinese Idiom: 口若悬河 (Kou Ruo Xuan He)
English Translation: To speak eloquently and at length
pīn yīn: kǒu ruò xuán hé
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes someone who is highly articulate, able to speak fluently and persuasively, with a continuous and powerful flow of words, like a rushing river.
Historical Source: “Shishuo Xinyu · Shang Yu” (A New Account of the Tales of the World) and “Jin Shu · Guo Xiang Zhuan” (Book of Jin · Biography of Guo Xiang).
Idiom Story
During the Western Jin Dynasty, there was a famous scholar named Guo Xiang, also known as Zixuan. From a young age, Guo Xiang was thoughtful and liked to ponder various phenomena in everyday life. He was particularly interested in studying the teachings of Laozi and Zhuangzi, and through diligent research, he developed many unique insights.
Many people sought to recruit Guo Xiang for official positions, but he consistently declined, preferring to stay at home, immersed in study and the discussion of abstract and profound philosophies. Eventually, he reluctantly accepted the position of Chief Clerk to the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue.
Guo Xiang was well-versed in a wide range of knowledge and excelled in speaking and debating. He could explain complex matters clearly and enjoyed sharing his own perspectives. Wang Yan, the Grand Commandant and leader of the scholars of the time, praised him, saying: “Listening to Guo Xiang speak is like a river suspended from a mountain, flowing unceasingly.” This means that Guo Xiang’s speech was like a river flowing down from the mountains, continuous and never drying up.
From this story, the phrase “如悬河泻水，注而不竭” (rú xuán hé xiè shuǐ, zhù ér bù jié) was simplified and derived into the idiom “口若悬河” (kǒu ruò xuán hé), meaning to speak eloquently and continuously, like a rushing river.
