# 要言不烦

yào yán bù fán

Speak concisely while covering the essentials

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Essential words without excessive detail

**Traditional Chinese:** 要言不煩

**Register:** Literary · formal

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

## When to use it

Praise a clear explanation that says what matters without needless length.

Concision should not omit information the audience needs.

## The image & its use

A useful introduction can be short because the speaker has chosen its contents carefully. This expression praises that combination of substance and economy. It is more than simply saying few words: the necessary points remain, while repetition and side paths fall away. It often suits a summary, a briefing, or a piece of written guidance. The right length depends on the audience. Beginners may need an example that experts do not, so judge concision by understanding rather than by a fixed word count.

## Examples

这份说明要言不烦，几句话就讲清了步骤。

### Traditional Chinese

這份說明要言不煩，幾句話就講清了步驟。

zhè fèn shuō míng yào yán bù fán ， jǐ jù huà jiù jiǎng qīng le bù zhòu 。

The instructions cover the essential steps in just a few clear sentences.

他的总结要言不烦，重点十分明确。

### Traditional Chinese

他的總結要言不煩，重點十分明確。

tā de zǒng jié yào yán bù fán ， zhòng diǎn shí fēn míng què 。

His concise summary makes the main points very clear.

开场介绍应该要言不烦，让听众迅速了解主题。

### Traditional Chinese

開場介紹應該要言不煩，讓聽眾迅速瞭解主題。

kāi chǎng jiè shào yīng gāi yào yán bù fán ， ràng tīng zhòng xùn sù liǎo jiě zhǔ tí 。

The introduction should briefly give listeners the essential topic.

这篇短文要言不烦，却没有遗漏重要信息。

### Traditional Chinese

這篇短文要言不煩，卻沒有遺漏重要信息。

zhè piān duǎn wén yào yán bù fán ， què méi yǒu yí lòu zhòng yào xìn xī 。

The short piece is concise without leaving out important information.

## 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=1202&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%A6%81%E8%A8%80%E4%B8%8D%E7%85%A9)

## Keep exploring

- [叶落归根 yè luò guī gēn Return to one’s roots or homeland ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ye-luo-gui-gen)

- [义不容辞 yì bù róng cí Have a duty one should not decline ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-bu-rong-ci)

- [以德报怨 yǐ dé bào yuàn Respond to hostility with kindness ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-de-bao-yuan)

- [义愤填膺 yì fèn tián yīng Be filled with righteous indignation ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-fen-tian-ying)

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