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泛泛而谈

fàn fàn ér tándictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
to speak in general terms
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-4fe1437869027c6d. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

泛泛而談 泛泛而谈 [fan4 fan4 er2 tan2] /to speak in general terms/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 泛泛而談

  • 泛
    fàn

    (bound form) general / non-specific / extensive / pan- / to flood / (literary) to float about / to be suffused with (a color, emotion, odor etc)

  • 泛
    fàn

    (bound form) general / non-specific / extensive / pan- / to flood / (literary) to float about / to be suffused with (a color, emotion, odor etc)

  • 而
    ér

    and / as well as / and so / but (not) / yet (not) / (indicates causal relation) / (indicates change of state) / (indicates contrast)

  • 谈
    tán

    to speak / to talk / to converse / to chat / to discuss

    Tán

    surname Tan

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.