📖 Meaning
This idiom describes talking in a grandiose, high-sounding manner that is roundabout and lacks practical substance. It is essentially equivalent to 高谈阔论, implying the speaker's words sound impressive but carry little real value or actionable content.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase appears in the Ming Dynasty historical novel "Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms" (东周列国志) by Feng Menglong, in its 89th chapter. The passage describes how the philosopher Zou Yan and his contemporaries "迂谈阔论，虚而无实" — engaging in grandiose discourse that was empty and devoid of substance. Zou Yan was a prominent thinker of the Yin-Yang school during the Warring States period, renowned for his sweeping cosmological theories that impressed rulers but yielded few practical results.
💡 Example Usage
他在会议上迂谈阔论了一番，却没有提出任何实质性的建议。
He gave a grandiose speech at the meeting but failed to put forward any substantive suggestions.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 迂谈阔论
- Pinyin: yū tán kuò lùn
- Literal Translation: circuitous, talk, broad, discourse
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4