The literal meaning of "kǒu ruò xuán hé" is speaking like a waterfall pouring down, describing a person who talks incessantly and is eloquent. This idiom originates from Liu Yiqing's A New Account of Tales of the World (Shishuo Xinyu) - Appreciation and Praise, written during the Liu Song dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, which records that Guo Xiang "spoke like a waterfall, pouring forth without cease," praising his outstanding eloquence. Its deeper meaning refers not only to fluent speech but also emphasizes richness, coherence, and momentum in one's words, and it is often used to describe people with exceptional speaking skills in speeches, debates, or everyday conversation. It is mostly used in a commendatory sense, but sometimes carries a slight tone of teasing, referring to someone who talks too much. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the ancients' emphasis on verbal expression ability. It is synonymous with "tāo tāo bù jué" (torrents of words) and "néng shuō huì dào" (eloquent and articulate), but is more vivid and graphic. Its emotional coloring is generally positive, inspiring admiration, though if taken to excess it may appear ostentatious.
📝 Example
1. He was so eloquent in the debate that he left his opponent speechless. (Describing someone who speaks fluently and with great momentum.)
2. Whenever Old Wang starts talking about his entrepreneurial experience, he becomes extremely talkative and simply cannot stop. (Describing someone who talks continuously and with great enthusiasm.)