脱口而出

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: tuō kǒu ér chū
• English Translation: To blurt out, to say something impulsively without thinking
• Idiom Composition: 「脱」（To slip out, to escape）＋「口」（Mouth）＋「而」（And）＋「出」（To come out）
• Meaning: Describes the situation where words come out naturally from the mouth without thinking. It refers to speaking reflexively or unconsciously without deep consideration.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「脱口而出」 contains the following nuances:

• Unconsciousness: Indicates that words come out before consciously choosing them or organizing thoughts.
• Immediacy: Means responding immediately and without hesitation to a question or situation.
• Frankness: Suggests that inner thoughts or feelings are expressed directly in words.
• Fluency: Can also describe words coming out smoothly and fluently without hesitation.

3. Usage

「脱口而出」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing speech or utterances: Used to describe someone speaking immediately without thinking.
  • Example:「他一听到这个问题，答案就脱口而出，显然已经思考很久了。」
    （As soon as he heard the question, the answer blurted out; obviously, he had thought about it for a long time.）
• Expressing emotions: Describes strong emotions like surprise, joy, or anger that cause words to come out involuntarily.
  • Example:「她看到老朋友，惊喜之情脱口而出：“你怎么来了？”」
    （Seeing her old friend, she blurted out with joy, 'Why are you here?'）
• Evaluating ability: Can also indicate that someone has deep knowledge or experience in a field and can answer questions immediately.
  • Example:「在辩论赛中，他反应敏捷，论点脱口而出，赢得了观众的掌声。」
    （In the debate, he responded quickly, his points blurted out, winning the audience's applause.）

Additional Examples:

1. 面对记者的突然提问，他一时紧张，竟然脱口而出了不该说的话。
   （Faced with a sudden question from a reporter, he got nervous and accidentally blurted out something he shouldn't have said.）
2. 孩子看到妈妈做的蛋糕，赞美的话脱口而出：“妈妈，你做的蛋糕真好吃！”
   （The child saw the cake made by mom and blurted out praise: 'Mom, the cake you made is really delicious!'）
3. 听到这个坏消息，她惊恐地叫了一声，然后脱口而出：“这不可能！”
   （Upon hearing the bad news, she screamed in fear and then blurted out, 'This can't be!'）
4. 他对这个问题研究已久，所以一被问到，答案就脱口而出。
   （He had studied this problem for a long time, so when asked, the answer blurted out immediately.）
5. 小明平时就很喜欢背诗，所以老师一提问，他就能脱口而出。
   （Xiaoming usually enjoys reciting poems, so when the teacher asks, he can blurt out the answer immediately.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Frankness in Chinese culture: In Chinese culture, expressing frank opinions or emotions is not always considered positive. Therefore, '脱口而出' can sometimes imply carelessness or thoughtlessness depending on the context.
• Context-dependent meaning: The idiom '脱口而出' can have positive or negative connotations depending on the situation. It is positive when based on knowledge or experience, but negative when it refers to thoughtless remarks.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 信口开河 (xìn kǒu kāi hé): To talk nonsense or say things carelessly.
  • 口若悬河 (kǒu ruò xuán hé): To be eloquent and speak fluently like a torrent.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 吞吞吐吐 (tūn tūn tǔ tǔ): To hesitate or stammer, unable to speak smoothly.

6. Summary

'脱口而出' is an idiom describing words coming out naturally from the mouth without thinking. The words often reflect the speaker's knowledge, experience, or emotions. When using this idiom, it is important to consider the context carefully to convey the speaker's intent accurately. Also, in Chinese, frank expressions are not always viewed positively, so caution is needed when using this idiom.