# 轻描淡写

qīng miáo dàn xiě

Describe something without much emphasis

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Sketch lightly and apply pale color

**Traditional Chinese:** 輕描淡寫

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe a restrained account, or criticize downplaying.

A concise account is not necessarily a misleading one.

## The image & its use

Light strokes and pale colors create a picture without heavy emphasis. In language, the phrase describes treating an event or issue with similar restraint. Sometimes this is a useful concise style; elsewhere it minimizes something that deserves attention. The surrounding sentence determines the judgment. Compare the account with the importance of the subject, rather than assuming every short description is inadequate. A speaker can be brief while still acknowledging the central facts clearly.

## Examples

她轻描淡写地讲了旅途的小插曲。

### Traditional Chinese

她輕描淡寫地講了旅途的小插曲。

tā qīng miáo dàn xiě dì jiǎng le lǚ tú de xiǎo chā qǔ 。

She briefly described a small incident from the trip.

这段说明把重要变化写得太轻描淡写。

### Traditional Chinese

這段說明把重要變化寫得太輕描淡寫。

zhè duàn shuō míng bǎ zhòng yào biàn huà xiě dé tài qīng miáo dàn xiě 。

The explanation gives too little weight to an important change.

他轻描淡写，却没有漏掉关键事实。

### Traditional Chinese

他輕描淡寫，卻沒有漏掉關鍵事實。

tā qīng miáo dàn xiě ， què méi yǒu lòu diào guān jiàn shì shí 。

He spoke with restraint but omitted no essential facts.

复杂的问题不能总是轻描淡写。

### Traditional Chinese

複雜的問題不能總是輕描淡寫。

fù zá de wèn tí bù néng zǒng shì qīng miáo dàn xiě 。

A complex issue should not always be treated lightly.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1130&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%BC%95%E6%8F%8F%E6%B7%A1%E5%AF%AB)

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