📖 Meaning
Language is brief but the content is meager and lacks substance. Unlike idioms that praise efficient expression, this carries a negative connotation, indicating that while the wording is short, the actual information or ideas conveyed are insufficient.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom has no specific classical source text or documented origin story. It emerged as a modern compound formed in deliberate contrast to the well-known idiom 言简意赅 (concise yet comprehensive), which traces back to Song dynasty literary criticism. Where 言简意赅 praises brevity paired with rich meaning, 言简意少 was coined to name the opposite fault: being brief but empty. It is used chiefly in writing instruction and literary criticism.
💡 Example Usage
他的发言言简意少，大家听了半天也没抓住重点。
His remarks were brief but lacking in substance; after listening for a long time, no one could grasp his main point.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 言简意少
- Pinyin: yán jiǎn yì shǎo
- Literal Translation: words, concise, meaning, little
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4