literal meaning; surface meaning
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
literal meaning; surface meaning (as opposed to implied or deeper meaning)
Often used in contrast to implied meanings (言外之意). In spoken Northern Mandarin, the suffix '儿' (ér) can be added, pronounced as 'zì miànr'. Frequently appears in phrases like '从字面上看' (literally speaking) or '字面意思'.
Zhè这
jù句
huà话
cóng从
zì字
miàn面
shàng上
kàn看
méi没
yǒu有
zhǐ指
zāi摘
de的
yì意
si思
。
Taken literally, this sentence contains no criticism.
Nǐ你
děi得
xiān先
lǐ理
jiě解
zhè这
ge个
cí词
de的
zì字
miàn面
yì意
si思
，
zài再
qù去
tǐ体
huì会
tā它
de的
shēn深
céng层
hán含
yì义
。
You need to understand the literal meaning of this word first, and then appreciate its deeper connotations.
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Zì字
miàn面
r儿
shàng上
shuō说
de得
guò过
qù去
，
dàn但
shí实
jì际
shàng上
lòu漏
dòng洞
bǎi百
chū出
。
It looks fine on the surface, but it is actually full of holes.