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模棱两可

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

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: mó léng liǎng kě
  • English Translation: Ambiguous and non-committal (sitting on the fence)
  • Idiom Composition: 「模棱」（Originally meaning to feel or rub the edges of an object to smooth them out; figuratively refers to being vague or avoiding a sharp, clear-cut position.）＋「两」（Two; both sides or both options.）＋「可」（Possible, acceptable, or 'can be'.）
  • Meaning: To avoid taking a clear stand or expressing a definite opinion on a matter, suggesting that 'either way is fine.' It is a pejorative term used to describe an equivocal or indecisive attitude that refuses to say yes or no.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「模棱两可」 contains the following nuances:

  • Indecisiveness and Evasion: The term is frequently used to criticize a lack of courage or a deliberate attempt to escape accountability by not saying 'yes' or 'no' clearly.
  • The Nuance of Self-Preservation: Based on its historical origin, the idiom often implies an opportunistic 'wait-and-see' approach, where one stays in the middle to ensure they don't lose out regardless of which side eventually wins.

3. Usage

「模棱两可」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Arguments and Responses: Used to criticize someone who gives evasive answers or refuses to clarify their position during a discussion.
    • Example:「对于这个关键问题，他总是回答得模棱两可，让人摸不着头脑。」
      （Regarding this critical issue, he always gives such ambiguous answers that people find him impossible to understand.)
  • Documents and Regulations: Used to point out that contracts, laws, or instructions are poorly defined and open to conflicting interpretations.
    • Example:「合同条款必须清晰明确，不能有任何模棱两可的地方。」
      （The terms of the contract must be clear and precise; there should not be any equivocal points.)
  • Political or Diplomatic Stance: Describes a politician or official who uses 'gray area' language to avoid committing to a specific course of action.
    • Example:「发言人在发布会上态度模棱两可，没有确认也没有否认传闻。」
      （The spokesperson was non-committal at the press conference, neither confirming nor denying the rumors.)

Additional Examples:

  1. 你需要给出一个确切的答复，不要模棱两可。
    （You need to provide a definite response instead of being ambiguous.）
  2. 这种模棱两可的态度只会让误会越来越深。
    （This fence-sitting attitude will only cause the misunderstanding to deepen.）
  3. 老师批评他的作文观点模棱两可，缺乏说服力。
    （The teacher criticized his essay for having vague arguments that lacked persuasion.）
  4. 在大是大非面前，我们不能模棱两可。
    （In the face of fundamental issues of right and wrong, we cannot be equivocal.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • This idiom originates from the biography of Su Weidao (苏味道) in the Old Book of Tang (旧唐书). Su Weidao was a high-ranking official who was terrified of making mistakes and being held responsible. He famously said that one should not make clear decisions but should instead 'rub the edges' (模棱) and hold both ends so that one can adapt to any outcome.
  • Because of this philosophy, Su Weidao was mockingly nicknamed 'Su Moleng' (苏模棱), or 'Su the Edge-Rubber.' Today, the phrase remains a strong criticism of 'playing it safe' at the expense of truth or efficiency.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

模棱两可 (mó léng liǎng kě) is a critical idiom used to describe someone who remains vague to avoid responsibility or self-risk. It characterizes people who refuse to take a side in an argument or documents that are so unclear they are open to multiple interpretations. In professional and logical contexts, this 'fence-sitting' is generally viewed as a negative trait.

Idiom Essay

mó léng liǎng kě
模棱两可
Ambiguity
nǐ你yǒu méi yǒu有没有yù dào遇到guò过zhè yàng这样de的shí hòu时候？

Have you ever encountered a time like this?

nǐ你hěn很rèn zhēn认真dì地wèn问bié rén别人yí gè一个wèn tí问题，qī dài期待tīng dào听到“shì是”huò zhě或者“bú shì不是”。

You ask someone a question very seriously, expecting to hear a "yes" or a "no."

kě shì可是，duì fāng对方shuō说le了bàn tiān半天，nǐ你què却fā xiàn发现，tā他hǎo xiàng好像shén me什么dōu都shuō说le了，yòu又hǎo xiàng好像shén me什么dōu都méi没shuō说。

However, after the other person speaks for a long time, you find that they seem to have said everything, yet also nothing at all.

tā他de的tài dù态度jiù就xiàng像yī tuán一团wù雾，ràng让nǐ你zhuā抓bú zhù不住zhòng diǎn重点。

Their attitude is like a fog, making it impossible for you to grasp the main point.

zhōng wén中文lǐ里，yǒu有yí gè一个chéng yǔ成语zhuān mén专门yòng lái用来xíng róng形容zhè zhǒng这种tài dù态度，jiào叫“mó léng liǎng kě模棱两可”。

In Chinese, there is an idiom specifically used to describe this attitude, called 模棱两可.

zhè ge这个cí词tīng qǐ lái听起来yǒu diǎn有点fù zá复杂，dàn但yì si意思qí shí其实dōu都zài在hòu后liǎng gè两个zì字shàng上——“liǎng kě两可”。

This term sounds a bit complex, but the meaning actually lies in the last two characters—两可.

yě也jiù shì就是“zhè yàng这样yě也kě yǐ可以，nà yàng那样yě也kě yǐ可以”。

That is, "this way is okay, and that way is also okay."

tā它xíng róng形容de的shì是yí gè一个rén人zài在chǔ lǐ处理shì qíng事情shí时，bù xiǎng不想biǎo míng表明míng què明确de的tài dù态度，jì既bù不kěn dìng肯定，yě也bù不fǒu dìng否定。

It describes a person who, when dealing with matters, does not want to express a clear stance, neither affirming nor denying.

wǒ men我们tōng cháng通常zài在shén me什么qíng kuàng情况xià下huì会yòng用dào到“mó léng liǎng kě模棱两可”ne呢？

In what situations do we usually use 模棱两可?

wǎng wǎng往往shì是zài在rén men人们bù xiǎng不想chéng dān承担zé rèn责任，huò zhě或者bù xiǎng不想dé zuì rén得罪人de的shí hòu时候。

It is often when people do not want to take responsibility or do not want to offend others.

bǐ rú比如zài在gōng zuò工作zhōng中，dà jiā大家zài在tǎo lùn讨论yí gè一个xīn新fāng àn方案。

For example, at work, everyone is discussing a new plan.

yǒu rén有人kě néng可能huì会shuō说：“zhè ge这个xiǎng fǎ想法què shí确实hěn很yǒu有chuàng yì创意，bù guò不过ne呢，fēng xiǎn风险yě也shì是cún zài存在de的。”

Someone might say: "This idea is indeed very creative, but then again, risks do exist."

tīng听wán完zhè这jù句huà话，nǐ你wán quán完全bù不zhī dào知道tā他dào dǐ到底shì是zhī chí支持hái shì还是fǎn duì反对。

After hearing this sentence, you have no idea whether they support or oppose it.

tā他gěi给zì jǐ自己liú留le了yī tiáo一条tuì lù退路：rú guǒ如果fāng àn方案chéng gōng成功le了，tā他shuō说guò过“yǒu有chuàng yì创意”；rú guǒ如果shī bài失败le了，tā他shuō说guò过“yǒu有fēng xiǎn风险”。

They have left themselves a way out: if the plan succeeds, they said it was "creative"; if it fails, they said there were "risks."

zhè这jiù shì就是“mó léng liǎng kě模棱两可”de的diǎn xíng典型xīn lǐ心理。

This is the typical psychology of 模棱两可.

tā它kàn qǐ lái看起来shì是yī zhǒng一种hěn很yuán huá圆滑、hěn很ān quán安全de的shuō huà说话fāng shì方式，yīn wèi因为tā它shuí谁dōu都méi yǒu没有dé zuì得罪，yě也bú huì不会ràng让zì jǐ自己fàn cuò犯错。

It seems like a very smooth and safe way of speaking because it offends no one and prevents oneself from making mistakes.

dàn shì但是，zhè zhǒng这种ān quán gǎn安全感shì是yǒu有dài jià代价de的。

However, this sense of security comes at a price.

yí gè一个zǒng shì总是“mó léng liǎng kě模棱两可”de的rén人，suī rán虽然hěn很shǎo少chū cuò出错，dàn但yě也wǎng wǎng往往hěn很nán难bèi被xìn rèn信任，yīn wèi因为dà jiā大家kàn bù qīng看不清tā他zhēn shí真实de的lì chǎng立场。

A person who is always 模棱两可, while rarely making mistakes, is also often hard to trust because people cannot see their true position.

zhè ge这个chéng yǔ成语tí xǐng提醒wǒ men我们：shēng huó生活zhōng中de的hěn duō很多shí kè时刻，shì是xū yào需要qīng xī清晰de的pàn duàn判断de的。

This idiom reminds us: many moments in life require clear judgment.

suī rán虽然mó hú模糊néng能dài lái带来zàn shí暂时de的ān quán安全，dàn但tā它jiě jué解决bù不le了wèn tí问题。

Although ambiguity can bring temporary safety, it cannot solve problems.

xià cì下次，dāng当nǐ你xū yào需要biǎo dá表达guān diǎn观点shí时，shì zhe试着bǎ把nà ge那个“mó léng liǎng kě模棱两可”de的zhōng jiān中间dì dài地带qù diào去掉，gěi chū给出yí gè一个qīng xī清晰de的dá àn答案ba吧。

Next time, when you need to express an opinion, try to remove that 模棱两可 middle ground and give a clear answer.

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