七嘴八舌
- Literal
- seven mouths, eight tongues
- Figurative
- Of a group, all talking at once, each chipping in with no order; a hubbub that can be described fondly or can suggest noise and poor organization.
Where does 七嘴八舌 come from?
It does not come from a specific anecdote: it is a colloquial expression that explains itself. Seven mouths and eight tongues are not an exact count; as in 乱七八糟 or 七手八脚, the seven-eight pairing suggests many, and in disorder. The picture is of a group where everyone weighs in at once and nobody waits their turn. It is not necessarily a criticism: it can fondly describe a family or neighbors who all jump in to comment on something, though it usually suggests noise and little organization.
How is 七嘴八舌 used? Two examples
- 一提到周末去哪里玩，全家人就七嘴八舌地讨论起来。
The moment someone asks where to go this weekend, the whole family starts talking over one another.
- 记者一进门，邻居们就七嘴八舌地说起了那天晚上的事。
As soon as the reporter walked in, the neighbors all started telling him at once about what happened that night.
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