# 滔滔不绝

tāo tāo bù jué

Speak in a continuous flowing stream

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Flow onward without interruption

**Traditional Chinese:** 滔滔不絕

**Register:** General · spoken & written

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

## When to use it

Describe extended, fluent, or overly lengthy speech.

Fluency is useful when listeners also have room to participate.

## The image & its use

A stream that keeps flowing provides an image of uninterrupted speech. The phrase may praise a lively storyteller or gently criticize someone who gives others little opportunity to speak. Its tone depends on the audience's response and the setting. A rich explanation can be welcome when people want detail, while the same length may overwhelm a short discussion. Describe both the speaker's fluency and the listening situation to make the judgment clear.

## Examples

讲到植物，她便滔滔不绝。

### Traditional Chinese

講到植物，她便滔滔不絕。

jiǎng dào zhí wù ， tā biàn tāo tāo bù jué 。

Once plants were mentioned, she spoke fluently at length.

导游滔滔不绝地介绍街区。

### Traditional Chinese

導遊滔滔不絕地介紹街區。

dǎo yóu tāo tāo bù jué dì jiè shào jiē qū 。

The guide gave a continuous, lively account of the neighborhood.

他讲得滔滔不绝，我们听得津津有味。

### Traditional Chinese

他講得滔滔不絕，我們聽得津津有味。

tā jiǎng dé tāo tāo bù jué ， wǒ men tīng dé jīn jīn yǒu wèi 。

He spoke at length, and we listened with keen interest.

讨论时别只顾滔滔不绝，也听听别人。

### Traditional Chinese

討論時別隻顧滔滔不絕，也聽聽別人。

tǎo lùn shí bié zhǐ gù tāo tāo bù jué ， yě tīng tīng bié rén 。

In discussion, leave room to listen as well as speak.

## 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=1144&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%BB%94%E6%BB%94%E4%B8%8D%E7%B5%95)

## Keep exploring

- [体贴入微 tǐ tiē rù wēi Show thoughtful care in every detail ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ti-tie-ru-wei)

- [恬不知耻 tián bù zhī chǐ Show no shame about wrongdoing ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tian-bu-zhi-chi)

- [天花乱坠 tiān huā luàn zhuì Speak with extravagant and often empty embellishment ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tian-hua-luan-zhui)

- [天造地设 tiān zào dì shè Fit together perfectly ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tian-zao-di-she)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 堂堂正正 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tang-tang-zheng-zheng) [Next idiom 逃之夭夭 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tao-zhi-yao-yao)