# 信口雌黄

xìn kǒu cí huáng

Make irresponsible or unfounded claims

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Use yellow correction pigment freely in speech

**Traditional Chinese:** 信口雌黃

**Register:** Critical · formal

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

## When to use it

Use to criticize someone who says whatever they like without regard for accuracy.

It accuses the speaker of irresponsible distortion, not simply offering a tentative opinion.

## Understanding the expression

The yellow pigment in the expression is associated with correcting writing on yellowish paper. Applied to speech, the image suggests casually altering what is said without respecting the facts. Modern use condemns unsupported claims or irresponsible accusations rather than careful, tentative interpretation. The phrase is strong criticism: identify the statement and evidence at issue instead of using it as a general insult during disagreement.

## Examples

没有看过资料，就不要信口雌黄。

### Traditional Chinese

沒有看過資料，就不要信口雌黃。

méi yǒu kàn guò zī liào ， jiù bú yào xìn kǒu cí huáng 。

Do not make unfounded claims before reviewing the material.

他信口雌黄地指责同事，却拿不出证据。

### Traditional Chinese

他信口雌黃地指責同事，卻拿不出證據。

tā xìn kǒu cí huáng dì zhǐ zé tóng shì ， què ná bù chū zhèng jù 。

He made baseless accusations against a colleague without evidence.

新闻写作必须核实来源，不能信口雌黄。

### Traditional Chinese

新聞寫作必須核實來源，不能信口雌黃。

xīn wén xiě zuò bì xū hé shí lái yuán ， bù néng xìn kǒu cí huáng 。

News writing requires verified sources rather than irresponsible claims.

她要求对方收回那些信口雌黄的说法。

### Traditional Chinese

她要求對方收回那些信口雌黃的說法。

tā yāo qiú duì fāng shōu huí nà xiē xìn kǒu cí huáng de shuō fǎ 。

She asked the other person to retract the unfounded statements.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%BF%A1%E5%8F%A3%E9%9B%8C%E9%BB%83)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=30&webMd=1&la=0)

- [Wiktionary · 信口雌黃 etymology](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%BF%A1%E5%8F%A3%E9%9B%8C%E9%BB%83)

## Keep exploring

- [信口开河 xìn kǒu kāi hé Speak recklessly without regard for facts ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xin-kou-kai-he)

- [心平气和 xīn píng qì hé Stay calm and even tempered ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xin-ping-qi-he)

- [信誓旦旦 xìn shì dàn dàn Make emphatic, solemn assurances ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xin-shi-dan-dan)

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