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自圆其说

zì yuán qí shuōdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
(idiom) to make a story or theory consistent / to give a plausible explanation / to plug the holes in one's story
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-f5db474cb358785a. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

自圓其說 自圆其说 [zi4 yuan2 qi2 shuo1] /(idiom) to make a story or theory consistent; to give a plausible explanation; to plug the holes in one's story/

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: 自圓其說

  • 自
    zì

    (bound form) self / oneself / from / since / naturally / as a matter of course

  • 圆
    yuán

    circle / round / circular / spherical / (of the moon) full / unit of Chinese currency (yuan) / tactful / to make consistent and whole (the narrative of a dream or a lie)

  • 其
    qí

    his / her / its / their / that / such / it (refers to sth preceding it)

  • 说
    shuì

    to persuade

    shuō

    to speak / to talk / to say / to explain / to comment / to scold / to tell off / (bound form) theory / doctrine

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.