📖 Meaning
This idiom describes speech or writing that is full of unnecessary and empty words. It implies a lack of substance beneath excessive verbiage. It is often used to criticize articles or remarks that are lengthy but say nothing of value.
📜 Origin Story
This is a modern colloquial idiom with no single classical source or origin story. It emerged from everyday Chinese usage to criticize verbose, content-poor communication. Unlike many chengyu rooted in ancient historical anecdotes, it reflects a straightforward linguistic formation: combining '废话' (nonsense words) with '连篇' (filling entire pages) to vividly depict pointless wordiness. It has become common in both written and spoken modern Chinese.
💡 Example Usage
他的文章真是废话连篇，言之无物。
His article is full of empty nonsense, saying nothing of substance.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 废话连篇
- Pinyin: fèi huà lián piān
- Literal Translation: waste, words, connected, chapters
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4