# 言简意赅

yán jiǎn yì gāi

Be concise yet comprehensive

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Words are brief and meaning complete

**Traditional Chinese:** 言簡意賅

**Register:** Positive · general

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Praise clear communication with little unnecessary wording.

Brevity alone is insufficient if essential information is missing.

## Understanding the expression

The expression balances short wording with complete meaning. A clear explanation removes unnecessary material while retaining what the listener needs to understand. It often praises a summary, instruction, or reply. The two qualities must remain together: a cryptic sentence is short but not comprehensive. Good concision requires knowing the subject and audience well enough to choose the important details, so the apparent simplicity can result from considerable thought and careful revision.

## Examples

她的说明言简意赅。

### Traditional Chinese

她的說明言簡意賅。

tā de shuō míng yán jiǎn yì gāi 。

Her explanation is concise and complete.

请用言简意赅的话概括结论。

### Traditional Chinese

請用言簡意賅的話概括結論。

qǐng yòng yán jiǎn yì gāi de huà gài kuò jié lùn 。

Please summarize the conclusion concisely and clearly.

这封邮件言简意赅，重点清楚。

### Traditional Chinese

這封郵件言簡意賅，重點清楚。

zhè fēng yóu jiàn yán jiǎn yì gāi ， zhòng diǎn qīng chǔ 。

The concise email makes its main points clear.

回答虽短，却不够言简意赅，漏了条件。

### Traditional Chinese

回答雖短，卻不夠言簡意賅，漏了條件。

huí dá suī duǎn ， què bú gòu yán jiǎn yì gāi ， lòu le tiáo jiàn 。

The short answer omits conditions and is not fully informative.

## 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=%E8%A8%80%E7%B0%A1%E6%84%8F%E8%B3%85)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=650&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [言之有物 yán zhī yǒu wù Say something substantive ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yan-zhi-you-wu)

- [咬文嚼字 yǎo wén jiáo zì Focus excessively on wording ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yao-wen-jiao-zi)

- [夜郎自大 yè láng zì dà Be absurdly self-important through ignorance ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ye-lang-zi-da)

- [亦步亦趋 yì bù yì qū Follow another's actions slavishly ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-bu-yi-qu)

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