📖 Meaning
To have a mouth yet find it difficult to defend oneself. It describes a situation where someone is wrongly accused or misunderstood but cannot argue their case effectively, leaving them unable to clear their name despite having the ability to speak.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Yuan dynasty zaju play 'Killing a Dog to Advise the Husband' (杀狗劝夫) by Xiao Dexiang. In the first act, the line reads '直着我有口难分，进推无门' — it leaves me with a mouth unable to defend, with no door to advance or retreat. The play tells the story of Sun Rong, who is mistreated by his brother, and uses the death of a dog as a moral lesson about fraternal duty and righteousness. The phrase vividly captures the helplessness of being unable to argue one's innocence.
💡 Example Usage
面对众人的指责，他有口难分，只能默默承受。
Facing the crowd's accusations, he was unable to defend himself and could only suffer in silence.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 有口难分
- Pinyin: yǒu kǒu nán fēn
- Literal Translation: have, mouth, difficult, defend
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4