交头接耳

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jiāo tóu jiē ěr
• English Translation: Whispering in each other's ears (putting heads together)
• Idiom Composition: 「交」（To cross, to bring together, or to intersect.）＋「头」（Head.）＋「接」（To touch, to connect, or to be in close contact with.）＋「耳」（Ear.）
• Meaning: To lean in close and whisper into one another's ears. It typically refers to secret discussions, gossiping, or inappropriate private conversations in a public setting where silence or attention is expected.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「交头接耳」 contains the following nuances:

• Physical Proximity: The idiom literally describes 'crossing heads' (交头) and 'touching ears' (接耳), emphasizing the very close physical distance required for a private conversation.
• Secrecy and Stealth: Because the action is meant to prevent others from hearing, it implies the content is a secret, a rumor, or something that shouldn't be said out loud.
• Critical Nuance: When used in formal settings like a lecture or a ceremony, it is a critical term used to describe rude behavior or a breach of discipline.

3. Usage

「交头接耳」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Discipline and Manners: Commonly used in classrooms, meeting rooms, or exam halls to warn people to stop talking or to describe a scene where discipline is breaking down.
  • Example:「开会的时候请大家保持安静，不要在下面交头接耳。」
    （Please keep quiet during the meeting; do not whisper to each other in the back.）
• Suspicion or Gossip: Used from a third-party perspective to describe people who seem to be plotting something or sharing secrets suspiciously.
  • Example:「看到那两个人神神秘秘地交头接耳，我就知道肯定没好事。」
    （Seeing those two whispering secretively, I knew for sure they were up to no good.）
• Intimacy (Rare): Occasionally used to describe a couple or close friends sharing an intimate secret, though it can still imply a lack of etiquette depending on the setting.
  • Example:「这对情侣坐在公园的长椅上，亲密地交头接耳。」
    （The couple sat on the park bench, whispering intimately to one another.）

Additional Examples:

1. 老师一转身写板书，下面的学生就开始交头接耳。
   （As soon as the teacher turned to write on the blackboard, the students started whispering to each other.）
2. 与其在背后交头接耳，不如当面把话说清楚。
   （Instead of gossiping behind people's backs, it is better to speak clearly to their faces.）
3. 考场纪律很严，禁止任何形式的交头接耳。
   （The exam hall discipline is strict; any form of whispering is forbidden.）
4. 大家都在认真听报告，只有角落里的几个人在交头接耳。
   （Everyone is listening to the report seriously, yet a few people in the corner are whispering among themselves.）
5. 他们俩交头接耳了一阵，似乎达成了某种共识。
   （The two of them whispered in each other's ears for a while and seemed to reach some sort of agreement.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• This idiom appears in the Yuan Dynasty play The Single Sword Meeting (单刀会) by Guan Hanqing (关汉卿). In the original context, it was used in a military setting where soldiers were ordered not to whisper, linking the phrase to the concept of strict discipline.
• In Chinese social and educational culture, whispering while in a group is often labeled as a 'small action' (小动作 - xiǎo dòng zuò). This refers to petty, distracting, or undisciplined behaviors that are considered disrespectful to the speaker or the collective.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 窃窃私语 (qiè qiè sī yǔ): To whisper or speak in hushed tones. Unlike 交头接耳 (jiāo tóu jiē ěr), this focuses more on the low volume of the voice rather than the physical movement of leaning in.
  • 低声细语 (dī shēng xì yǔ): To speak in a low, soft voice. This is a more neutral or even positive term, often describing a gentle or calm conversation.
  • 耳鬓厮磨 (ěr bìn sī mó): To be in close and intimate contact, often referring to a couple.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 大声疾呼 (dà shēng jí hū): To shout loudly or cry out to call public attention to an issue.
  • 高谈阔论 (gāo tán kuò lùn): To talk loudly and at great length, often in a boastful or grand manner.

6. Summary

交头接耳 (jiāo tóu jiē ěr) describes the physical act of leaning heads together to whisper. Beyond just 'speaking quietly,' it often carries a negative nuance of sharing secrets, gossiping, or breaking decorum by engaging in 'private talk' during a class or meeting. It is frequently used to point out a breach of public manners.