自言自语

zì yán zì yǔ

HSK 3.0 Level 6 Idiom Uncommon

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Definitions

1. to talk to oneself
2. to think aloud
3. to soliloquize

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 默然 mò rán 默然 mò rán silent “默然”表示沉默不说话，与自言自语相反: silent

Related words

1 item

• 独白 dú bái 独白 dú bái stage monologue “独白”指戏剧中的独自台词，不同于一般自言自语: stage monologue

Synonyms

2 items

• 喃喃自语 nán nán zì yǔ 喃喃自语 nán nán zì yǔ to mumble to oneself 二者都表示小声或自言自语，但“喃喃自语”更侧重声音细小而模糊: to mumble to oneself
• 念念有词 niàn niàn yǒu cí 念念有词 niàn niàn yǒu cí to mumble 指低声自言自语地说话，尤指因愤怒、惊讶而小声嘀咕: to mumble

Usage notes

Collocations

常与“一个人”或“坐在那里”等描述独自一人的语境搭配，强调说话者处于独处状态

Grammar

Guides that feature 自言自语

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1 guide

HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 5 min

自A自B for “By Oneself, For Oneself”

Learn 自A自B idioms such as 自言自语, 自给自足 and 自由自在, where both actions are done by yourself, to yourself or for yourself.

Reading: zì yán zì yǔ Open guide

Example Sentences

1 shown

他在房间里 自言自语 ，好像在思考什么。

He was talking to himself in the room, as if thinking about something.

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Child Words of 自言自语

• 自 自 zì: self
• 自言 自言 zì yán: to say (sth that relates to oneself)
• 自语 自语 zì yǔ: to talk to oneself
• 言 言 yán: words
• 语 语 yǔ: dialect
• 语 语 yù: to tell to