Chengyu in speeches and politics

In public speaking and political discourse, **chengyu (成语)** act as fast-loading cultural references. They compress values, frame policies, and cue emotion—while conserving airtime.

  • Chengyu Idioms
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Article 2 of 5 in Chengyu-in-Modern-Context/

Why Chengyu Work on the Podium

  • Authority & continuity: Classical allusions project gravitas and link a proposal to long-held values.
  • Memorability: Four characters create rhythmic sound bites easy to quote and headline.
  • Framing: A single idiom can cast an issue as prudence (未雨绸缪), unity (同舟共济), or integrity (名正言顺).

Functional Buckets for Speeches

  • Vision & Direction
    • 高瞻远瞩: long-range vision; use to outline strategy horizons.
    • 统筹兼顾: balance competing needs; use for multi-goal plans.
  • Unity & Mobilization
    • 同舟共济 / 众志成城: rally collective effort in crises.
    • 群策群力: inclusive policymaking; invite proposals.
  • Discipline & Governance
    • 名正言顺: legitimacy of mandate/role clarity.
    • 恪尽职守 / 严于律己: duty and self-restraint in office.
  • Execution & Cadence
    • 稳扎稳打 / 循序渐进: gradual rollouts; phased reforms.
    • 持之以恒 / 再接再厉: sustain effort after early wins.
  • Risk & Prudence
    • 未雨绸缪 / 居安思危: prepare in fair weather; contingency planning.
    • 因地制宜: tailor policies to local conditions.
  • Rectification & Truth
    • 实事求是 / 水落石出: evidence-based evaluation and transparency.

Sample Lines (Speaker-Ready)

  • Vision: “在新阶段,我们将高瞻远瞩统筹兼顾,推进长期与短期目标同向发力。”
  • Unity: “困难当前,更需同舟共济众志成城,确保民生保障不断档。”
  • Execution: “改革坚持稳扎稳打循序渐进,以试点带动全面铺开。”
  • Risk: “面向汛期,我们未雨绸缪,完善应急预案与物资储备。”
  • Integrity: “干部当严于律己,做到名正言顺恪尽职守。”

Rhetorical Placement Patterns

  • 开篇定调(Theme-first):用1条中性/积极成语奠基:“新旧动能转换,关键在稳扎稳打。”
  • 段落末尾(Cadence close):以成语收束,增强回声:“这正是众志成城的力量。”
  • 对仗并列(Parallelism)未雨绸缪强基础,因地制宜解难题。”

Choosing Register & Avoiding Traps

  • Prefer constructive, high-frequency idioms in policy talk: 实事求是、统筹兼顾、稳扎稳打
  • Use caution with pejoratives(如 指鹿为马、纸上谈兵)—若需批评,宜在问责或评论语境,避免人身化。
  • Don’t over-stack: 每段不超过1–2条;重事实与数据并举。
  • Clarify with plain language: 成语后立刻给白话解释或指标。

Slide/Briefing Conversions(把政策点转成“成语 + 白话”)

  • 统筹兼顾 → “三项目标同步推进:稳增长、保就业、控风险。”
  • 因地制宜 → “县域A发展农旅,县域B做制造配套,各展所长。”
  • 未雨绸缪 → “三类预案、两级物资库、48小时轮值机制。”

Media & Debate Tactics

  • Sound bite crafting: 选择一条成语 + 一组数字:“保供稳价有条不紊:库存覆盖45天。”
  • Pivoting with idioms: 被追问细节不足时,用实事求是承诺后续披露,并附时间表。
  • Contrast framing: 政策路径A(稳扎稳打)vs 路径B(欲速则不达)。

Quick Practice(Pick the Best Chengyu)

  1. 强调长期视角与整体平衡 → 高瞻远瞩 / 统筹兼顾
  2. 呼吁协力抗灾 → 同舟共济 / 众志成城
  3. 先做试点、分步推进 → 循序渐进 / 稳扎稳打
  4. 风险管理与预案准备 → 未雨绸缪 / 居安思危
  5. 要求依法合规、职责清晰 → 名正言顺 / 恪尽职守

Speaker’s Checklist

  • 主题词(≤3) + 对应成语(1条/段)
  • 每条成语后接具体措施或数据
  • 反复回环的“主旋律”成语(如 实事求是)贯穿全文

Takeaway: 在演讲与政治沟通中,成语是“价值与行动的压缩包”。选稳扎稳打、统筹兼顾、同舟共济、未雨绸缪、实事求是等高频而明晰的表达,与具体方案并列,你的信息将更权威、清晰、易记。

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Chengyu Idioms

Written by : Chengyu Idioms

A lifelong scholar and enthusiast of Chinese culture and language.

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