📖 Meaning
Describes a state where one's mouth and lips have become dry from talking excessively or arguing at great length. It conveys the idea of having exhausted oneself through speech, often in an effort to persuade or explain something to no avail.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from a poem titled "善哉行" (Shan Zai Xing) by Cao Zhi, a renowned poet and prince of the Wei kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period (3rd century CE). The line reads: "来日大难，口燥唇干；今日相乐，皆当喜欢," which roughly means that in the face of future hardships one may talk until mouth and lips are parched, so today one should enjoy happiness while it lasts. Cao Zhi was the son of the warlord Cao Cao and was known for his literary brilliance.
💡 Example Usage
他说了半天道理，早已口燥唇干，对方却无动于衷。
He had been reasoning for a long time, already parched in mouth and lips, yet the other party remained completely unmoved.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 口燥唇干
- Pinyin: kǒu zào chún gān
- Literal Translation: mouth dry, lips parched
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4