📖 Meaning
The tongue is like a sword and the lips are like spears. It describes a fierce debate where words are sharp and cutting, with both sides holding their ground and refusing to yield. Often used to characterize eloquent yet confrontational argumentation.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from Yuan dynasty playwright Gao Wenxiu's drama "Mianchi Hui" (渑池会), where a character declares that with lips as spears and tongue as sword he secures the realm. The phrase draws on the metaphor of weaponizing one's speech to dominate opponents in verbal confrontation. The imagery of turning speech into blades reflects the high value classical Chinese culture placed on rhetorical skill in diplomacy and debate. A later usage appears in Wu Hanchen's Yuan drama "Yuhu Chun," reinforcing its popularity in Yuan theatrical literature.
💡 Example Usage
辩论会上双方舌剑唇枪，互不相让，气氛十分紧张。
At the debate, both sides traded sharp words and refused to yield, making the atmosphere extremely tense.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 舌剑唇枪
- Pinyin: shé jiàn chún qiāng
- Literal Translation: tongue, sword, lip, spear
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4