"Chu kou cheng zhang" literally means that as soon as one opens one's mouth, it becomes a polished piece of writing. It describes a person whose literary thoughts are quick and whose language skills are extremely strong, so that the words they speak are as orderly and elegant as a carefully composed essay. This idiom originates from the line "chu yan you zhang" in the "Xiaoya: Du Ren Shi" section of the Book of Songs. It originally meant that officials and scholars spoke in accordance with ritual and propriety, and later evolved into praise for quick wit. It is often used to describe writers, scholars, speakers, or anyone who, when speaking impromptu, can cite classics and produce a stream of witty remarks. In cultural background, it reflects the high regard in traditional Chinese culture for the unity of "writing" and "speech," that is, the perfect combination of inner learning and outward eloquence. In emotional coloring, it is a commendatory term with a sense of praise and admiration, and when used it often expresses affirmation of another person's talent. Note that it emphasizes not only speaking ability, but even more that the content is literary and well-structured, rather than simply being talkative.
📝 Example
1. This young debater spoke with eloquence and quoted classics with ease in the final, winning applause from the entire audience. (Describing impromptu speech that is both literary and well-organized.)
2. Although he had not prepared a speech, once on stage he spoke with such eloquence that the audience was utterly captivated. (Describing extremely strong language expression ability, where every utterance is a fine piece of writing.)