bù yán ér yù: 不言而喻 - Self-evident, It Goes Without Saying, Obvious

• Keywords: 不言而喻, bu yan er yu, bu yan er yu meaning, Chinese idiom for obvious, self-evident in Chinese, it goes without saying Chinese, chengyu, Chinese idioms, high-context culture, Chinese communication
• Summary: Discover the meaning and use of 不言而喻 (bù yán ér yù), a common Chinese idiom (chengyu) that translates to “it goes without saying” or “self-evident.” This guide breaks down the characters, explores the cultural significance of unspoken understanding, and provides numerous practical examples. Learning 不言而喻 is key to understanding the nuances of Chinese communication and making your own speech sound more sophisticated and fluent.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bù yán ér yù
• Part of Speech: Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ)
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: Something is so obvious and clear that it does not need to be said.
• In a Nutshell: 不言而喻 is the classic Chinese way to say “it goes without saying” or “that's self-evident.” It's used for facts, truths, or conclusions that are so logical and apparent that explaining them would be redundant. It conveys a sense of shared understanding and common sense, suggesting that everyone involved already grasps the point without needing it spelled out.

• 不 (bù): A negative prefix, meaning “not” or “no.”
• 言 (yán): A formal character for “to speak” or “words.” It carries more weight than the common word 说 (shuō).
• 而 (ér): A classical Chinese function word that connects two clauses. Here, it acts like “and yet” or “but,” linking the lack of speech to the presence of understanding.
• 喻 (yù): To understand, to know, to make clear.

Putting them together, the literal meaning is “not speak, and yet understand.” This beautifully illustrates the core concept: a truth so clear that it can be grasped without any verbal explanation.

不言而喻 is more than just a phrase; it's a window into Chinese culture, which is often described as a “high-context” culture. This means that communication relies heavily on shared context, non-verbal cues, and mutual understanding, rather than explicit verbal instructions.

• High-Context vs. Low-Context: In many Western cultures (low-context), value is placed on being direct, clear, and explicit. “Say what you mean, and mean what you say” is a common mantra. In contrast, 不言而喻 reflects a cultural value placed on the ability to understand situations and relationships without everything being spelled out. Reaching a state of 不言而喻 between friends or business partners signifies a deep level of rapport and trust.
• Harmony and Face: Stating the obvious can sometimes be seen as slightly blunt or even condescending, as if you're questioning the listener's intelligence. Using 不言而喻 is a polite and sophisticated way to affirm a shared conclusion without being overly direct, thus preserving social harmony and giving face. It allows you to state a strong point as if it were a simple, universally accepted truth.

This idiom is common in both written and spoken Chinese, though it leans towards the formal side. It's not slang, but a standard, educated expression.

• In Formal Settings: In speeches, business reports, or academic articles, 不言而喻 is used to introduce a conclusion that logically follows from the evidence presented. It signals that the point is the clear and undeniable outcome of the previous discussion.
• In Everyday Conversation: It's used to express that something is common knowledge or just plain common sense. If a friend complains about being tired after staying up all night, you might say their tiredness is “不言而喻.”
• Connotation: The connotation is overwhelmingly neutral. It is a statement of fact and logic, not an emotional expression. It can, however, be used to gently emphasize a point that you feel the other person should already know.

• Example 1:
  • 身体健康的重要性是不言而喻的。
  • Pinyin: Shēntǐ jiànkāng de zhòngyàoxìng shì bù yán ér yù de.
  • English: The importance of good health is self-evident.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, universally true statement. The 的 (de) at the end is common when 不言而喻 is used as a predicate adjective.
• Example 2:
  • 对于任何一家公司来说，客户的重要性不言而喻。
  • Pinyin: Duìyú rènhé yī jiā gōngsī láishuō, kèhù de zhòngyàoxìng bù yán ér yù.
  • English: For any company, the importance of customers goes without saying.
  • Analysis: Used in a business context to state a fundamental principle that everyone should understand.
• Example 3:
  • 看到他脸上的笑容，他的幸福不言而喻。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào tā liǎnshàng de xiàoróng, tā de xìngfú bù yán ér yù.
  • English: Seeing the smile on his face, his happiness was obvious without needing to be said.
  • Analysis: Here, a visual cue (the smile) makes the conclusion (happiness) self-evident.
• Example 4:
  • 他整个学期都没学习，结果会怎样不言而喻。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhěnggè xuéqī dōu méi xuéxí, jiéguǒ huì zěnyàng bù yán ér yù.
  • English: He didn't study the entire semester, so what the result would be is self-evident.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates using the idiom to point out an obvious logical consequence.
• Example 5:
  • 互联网对现代社会的影响不言而喻。
  • Pinyin: Hùliánwǎng duì xiàndài shèhuì de yǐngxiǎng bù yán ér yù.
  • English: The impact of the internet on modern society is self-evident.
  • Analysis: A common way to talk about large-scale, undeniable social trends.
• Example 6:
  • 我们都知道要努力工作，其中的道理不言而喻。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen dōu zhīdào yào nǔlì gōngzuò, qízhōng de dàolǐ bù yán ér yù.
  • English: We all know we need to work hard; the reasoning behind it goes without saying.
  • Analysis: Here, “道理 (dàolǐ)” means “reason” or “principle,” and 不言而喻 states that this principle is obvious.
• Example 7:
  • 在父母眼中，孩子的安全总是第一位的，这是不言而喻的。
  • Pinyin: Zài fùmǔ yǎnzhōng, háizi de ānquán zǒngshì dì-yī wèi de, zhè shì bù yán ér yù de.
  • English: In the eyes of parents, their child's safety is always number one; this is self-evident.
  • Analysis: Used to express a deeply held, common value.
• Example 8:
  • 他为团队付出了这么多，他的贡献不言而喻。
  • Pinyin: Tā wèi tuánduì fùchūle zhème duō, tā de gòngxiàn bù yán ér yù.
  • English: He gave so much for the team, his contribution is obvious.
  • Analysis: Used to praise someone by stating their value as a clear, undeniable fact.
• Example 9:
  • 这个问题的事实已经很清楚了，谁对谁错不言而喻。
  • Pinyin: Zhège wèntí de shìshí yǐjīng hěn qīngchǔ le, shéi duì shéi cuò bù yán ér yù.
  • English: The facts of this issue are already very clear; who is right and who is wrong is self-evident.
  • Analysis: Used in resolving a dispute, suggesting the conclusion is clear once the facts are known.
• Example 10:
  • 不言而喻，要想学好中文，每天的练习是必不可少的。
  • Pinyin: Bù yán ér yù, yào xiǎng xuéhǎo Zhōngwén, měitiān de liànxí shì bìbùkěshǎo de.
  • English: It goes without saying, if you want to learn Chinese well, daily practice is essential.
  • Analysis: Here, the idiom is used at the beginning of a sentence as an introductory phrase, much like “Obviously,” or “It goes without saying,” in English.

• Don't use it for personal opinions. 不言而喻 should be reserved for things that are truly obvious to a general audience or from a logical standpoint. Stating “不言而喻，星巴克是最好的咖啡 (Bù yán ér yù, Xīngbākè shì zuì hǎo de kāfēi)” (It's self-evident that Starbucks is the best coffee) is incorrect because it's a subjective opinion, not a universal fact.
• Don't overuse it in casual chat. While not strictly wrong, using this four-character idiom in very informal situations (like chatting with close friends over text) might sound a bit too formal or stiff. A more colloquial phrase like `那还用说 (nà hái yòng shuō)` (Does that even need to be said?) or `当然了 (dāngrán le)` (Of course!) would be more natural.
• False Friend: “Obviously”. In English, “obviously” can be used sarcastically or to express frustration (e.g., “Obviously, you broke it!”). 不言而喻 almost never carries this sarcastic or accusatory tone. It is a neutral, logical statement. To express frustration, you would use different phrasing entirely.

• 显而易见 (xiǎn'ér'yìjiàn) - A very close synonym. It means “obvious and easy to see,” perhaps with a slightly more visual connotation. Largely interchangeable with 不言而喻.
• 一目了然 (yī mù liǎo rán) - “Clear at a glance.” This emphasizes immediate visual clarity, as when looking at a well-organized spreadsheet or a map. It's about seeing, whereas 不言而喻 is about knowing.
• 众所周知 (zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī) - “As everyone knows” or “it is common knowledge.” This specifically highlights that the information is widely known by the public.
• 理所当然 (lǐ suǒ dāng rán) - “As a matter of course; it is only right and proper.” This implies a sense of reason, logic, or even justice. Something is the way it is because that's the way it *should* be. 不言而喻 is about a fact being clear; 理所当然 is about a situation being proper or expected.
• 那还用说 (nà hái yòng shuō) - The most direct, informal, and colloquial equivalent. Means “That goes without saying!” or “You can say that again!” Perfect for casual conversation.
• 心照不宣 (xīn zhào bù xuān) - “A tacit/mutual understanding without speaking.” This is different. It refers to a private or sensitive understanding between two or more people that is intentionally left unsaid, like a shared secret or a silent agreement. 不言而喻 refers to a public, obvious fact.