每天成语
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指手画脚

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo
  • English Translation: To gesticulate; to make bossy remarks (meddling)
  • Idiom Composition: 「指」（To point）＋「手」（Hand）＋「画」（To draw or gesture (with the hands)）＋「脚」（Foot）
  • Meaning: Originally describing the act of using expressive hand and foot gestures while speaking, this idiom is now primarily used as a derogatory term to describe someone who gives unsolicited advice, makes bossy remarks, or criticizes others irresponsibly from the sidelines.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「指手画脚」 contains the following nuances:

  • Irresponsible Intervention: It refers to the attitude of someone who does not participate in the actual work but feels entitled to criticize or direct those who do.
  • Arrogant Nuance: The term carries a strong sense of looking down on others, implying the speaker is acting in a self-important or condescending manner.
  • Literal vs. Figurative: While the literal meaning is simply to gesture with hands and feet, in modern Chinese, the figurative meaning of 'meddling' or 'bossing around' is used almost 90% of the time.

3. Usage

「指手画脚」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Workplace or Project Criticism: Used to express frustration when a boss or outsider who doesn't understand the ground reality gives irresponsible or overbearing instructions.
    • Example:「你既然不了解具体情况，就不要在这里指手画脚。」
      （Since you don't understand the specific situation, don't make bossy remarks here.）
  • Interference in Personal Life: Used to criticize relatives or friends who intrude upon personal decisions like marriage or career choices.
    • Example:「这是我自己的生活，不需要别人对我指手画脚。」
      （This is my own life; I don't need others meddling and telling me what to do.）
  • Describing Animated Gestures: A descriptive use in literature to show a character speaking with great excitement or self-satisfaction.
    • Example:「他兴奋地向大家指手画脚，描述刚才发生的趣事。」
      （He was gesticulating wildly with excitement as he described the funny thing that just happened to everyone.）

Additional Examples:

  1. 与其站在旁边指手画脚，不如过来帮把手。
    （Instead of standing by and giving orders, why don't you come over and lend a hand?）
  2. 有些网友总是喜欢在评论区对别人的穿着指手画脚。
    （Some netizens love to make critical remarks about other people's outfits in the comments section.）
  3. 真正的专家会提出建设性的意见，而不是随意指手画脚。
    （A true expert provides constructive advice rather than just bossing people around.）
  4. 我不喜欢那种只会指手画脚，却没有任何实际行动的人。
    （I don't like people who only give unsolicited advice but never take any actual action.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Writing Variations: You may see this written as 指手画脚 or 指手划脚. Both are correct and pronounced the same (zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo), as both 画 and 划 in this context refer to the motion of gesturing.
  • Social Context: In Chinese culture, where 'Face' (面子 - miàn zi) and social hierarchy are significant, this idiom is a common way to push back against 'nosy relatives' or 'incompetent managers' who overstep their bounds.
  • Literary Origins: The idiom appears in classic Chinese literature, including the Water Margin (水浒传 - Shuǐ hǔ zhuàn) and Dream of the Red Chamber (红楼梦 - Hóng lóu mèng). In these older texts, it was often used more neutrally to describe vivid storytelling, but it has evolved into a sharp criticism in modern times.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

The idiom 指手画脚 (zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo) literally means 'pointing hands and drawing with feet.' While it can describe animated storytelling, it is most commonly used to criticize people who meddle in affairs that aren't their concern. It captures the image of someone who isn't doing any of the work themselves but is busy telling everyone else what they are doing wrong.

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