言
yan2Mathews: 7334GSR: 251a
Dictionary Definition
(a, the) (written) character, chatter, critique, criticism, discussion, expression, gossip, language, oratory, reference, rumor, speech, statement, talk, word (s); talk (of); speaker, talker, orator; adage, dictum, idea, maxim, opinion, proverb, saying, theory; things to say, something to say; (to) address, advise, chatter, communicate, describe, discuss, express, gossip, mean, opine, praise, preach, say, speak, talk, tell (of, about), verbalize (s, ed, ing); (to be) said, spoken; thus, there, and so; - spoken, -verbal; verbally
Radical: 149+0 | First occurrence: Hexagram 05.2
Concordance & Context (28 occurrences)
Entries shown in Hatcher's reference chain order. First Witness at 05.2
2nd Line★
things to say; talk, gossip, chatter "
需于沙，小有言，終吉。
Waiting on the sand
The small will talk
In the end promising
Stats: 149+0→ 06.1
1st Line
things to say; talk, gossip, chatter "
不永所事，小有言，終吉。
Not prolonging certain endeavors
The small will talk
In the end, promising
→ 07.5
5th Line
(t he) talk(ing), word(s), speech, rumors, gossip
田有禽，利執言，無咎。長子帥師，弟子輿尸，贞凶。
The hunt takes captives
Worthwhile to manage the talking
Avoid error
The elder son captains the militia
The younger son transports fatalities
Constancy is inauspicious
→ 36.1
1st Line
talk, gossip; things, something to say
明夷于飛，垂其翼。君子于行，三日不食。有攸往，主人有言。
Brightness obscured during flight*
Dragging one’s wing
The noble young one in traveling
Goes three days without a meal
When there is somewhere to go
Those in power would gossip
→ 05.2
Xiao Xiang 2
talk
需於沙，衍在中也。雖小有言，以吉終也。
05.2x Waiting on the sand:
Abundance lies in the middle
* Even though the small will talk
Consider the promising outcome
Xiao Xiang 1
talk
不永所事，訟不可長也。雖小有言，其辨明也。
06.1x Not prolonging certain endeavors:
Contention is not suited to being prolonged
* Even though the small will talk
One’s arguments are clear
Xiao Xiang 5
(with) discuss, praise, talk, speak (ing) of, for
同人之先，以中直也。大師相遇，言相克也。
13.5x Fellowship with others with such a beginning:
Through balance (comes) orientation
* Mighty armies entertaining each other:
Praising each other’s abilities
→ 05.2
Xiang Zhuan
word, idea, speech, discussion, argument (s)
天在山中，大畜。君子以多識前言往行，以畜其德。
Heaven dwells in the midst of the mountain
Raising great beasts
The noble young one makes use of large stores of knowledge
of prior ideas and past deeds
With which to develop such character
→ 05.2
Xiang Zhuan
words, talk, speech, language
山下有雷，頤。君子以慎言語，節飲食。
Beneath the mountain is thunder
Hungry mouth
The noble young one, accordingly,
is careful with words and expressions
And moderate in drinking and eating
→ 05.2
Xiang Zhuan
speaks; words, speech
風自火出，家人。君子以言有物，而行有恆。
Wind comes forth from flame
Family members
The noble young one, accordingly, speaks with substance
And acts with consistency
→ 05.2
4th Line
(the, this, these) words, talk, theory; said 47.0
臀無膚，其行次且。牽羊悔亡，聞言不信。
A rump with no skin
One’s progress is inferior now
To be led like a sheep, regrets would pass
But to hear the words is not comprehension
→ 47.0
Xiao Xiang 4
(the) words
其行次且，位不當也。聞言不信，聰不明也。
43.4x One’s progress (is) second-rate now:
The position (was) not appropriate
* To hear the words is not comprehension:
Quick to hear (but) not much clarity
Gua Ci
(the, this, these) words, talk, theory 43.4
困，亨，贞，大人吉，無咎。有言不信。
“Fulfillment”
“Persistence”
For the mature human being, a promise,
Not a mistake
But having the words is not the conviction
→ 49.3
Tuan Zhuan
words
困，剛揜，險以説，困而不失其所亨，其唯君子乎。贞大人吉，以剛中也。有言不信，尚口乃窮也。
Exhaustion
The firm (is) covered over
To risk leads to satisfaction
(To be) beset and still not lose that which is fulfilling
One who is truly a noble young one attains this
Persistence (is) the mature human being’s promise:
By way of the firmness within
There will be words but no assurance:
To value the oral leads to exhaustion
3rd Line
(when) talk, word, discussion, proposal (s) v
征凶，贞厲。革言三就，有孚。
To expedite has pitfalls
Commitment is difficult
When talk of change has circled three times
Then be sure
→ 05.2
Xiao Xiang 3
(is) discussed
革言三就，又何之矣？
49.3x (When) change (is) discussed three times all around:
Given that, where is this?*
Gua Ci
words, talk(ing), speech, chatter "
震，亨。震來虩虩，笑言啞啞，震驚百里，不丧匕鬯。
Fulfillment
Shock brings fear and alarm
And mirthful words and echoing laughter
The thunder startles for a hundred li * around
But do not let drop the ladle of sacred wine
→ 05.2
words, talk(ing), speech, chatter "
震，亨。震來虩虩，笑言啞啞，震驚百里，不丧匕鬯。
Fulfillment
Shock brings fear and alarm
And mirthful words and echoing laughter
The thunder startles for a hundred li * around
But do not let drop the ladle of sacred wine
1st Line
words, talk(ing), speech, chatter "
震來虩虩，後笑言啞啞，吉。
The shock brings fear and alarm
And later, mirthful words and echoing laughter
Promising
→ 05.2
words, talk(ing), speech, chatter "
震來虩虩，後笑言啞啞，吉。
The shock brings fear and alarm
And later, mirthful words and echoing laughter
Promising
Xiao Xiang 1
words
震來虩虩，恐致福也。笑言啞啞，後有則也。
51.1x The shock brings fear (and) alarm:
The fear leads to well-being
* Mirthful words (and) echoing laughter:
After there is a precedent
words
震來虩虩，恐致福也。笑言啞啞，後有則也。
51.1x The shock brings fear (and) alarm:
The fear leads to well-being
* Mirthful words (and) echoing laughter:
After there is a precedent
6th Line
talk, gossip; opinions; some(thing)(s) to say
震索索，視矍矍，征凶。震不于其躬，于其鄰，無咎。婚媾有言。
(Fan Yao* 21.6: wearing the cangue, hiding ears, unfortunate)
The shock startles and confuses
Searching in wild-eyed panic
To go boldly is ominous
The shock is not in one’s being
Merely in one’s neighborhood
Make no mistakes
Even the marital suitor* might have something to say
→ 05.2
talk, gossip; opinions; some(thing)(s) to say
震索索，視矍矍，征凶。震不于其躬，于其鄰，無咎。婚媾有言。
(Fan Yao* 21.6: wearing the cangue, hiding ears, unfortunate)
The shock startles and confuses
Searching in wild-eyed panic
To go boldly is ominous
The shock is not in one’s being
Merely in one’s neighborhood
Make no mistakes
Even the marital suitor* might have something to say
Tuan Zhuan
words
震，亨。震來虩虩，恐致福也。笑言啞啞，後有則也。震驚百里，驚遠而懼邇也。出可以守宗廟社稷，以為祭主也。
Arousal (means) fulfillment
Shock brings fear (and) alarm:
The fear leads to well-being
Mirthful words (and) echoing laughter:
After there is a precedent
The thunder startles (for) a hundred li (around):
Disturbing the distant and frightening the near
Do not let drop the ladle of sacred wine:
Emerge fit to guard the ancestral shrine,
the altars to place (and) to grain
(And) thereby perform the offerings (with) mastery
words
震，亨。震來虩虩，恐致福也。笑言啞啞，後有則也。震驚百里，驚遠而懼邇也。出可以守宗廟社稷，以為祭主也。
Arousal (means) fulfillment
Shock brings fear (and) alarm:
The fear leads to well-being
Mirthful words (and) echoing laughter:
After there is a precedent
The thunder startles (for) a hundred li (around):
Disturbing the distant and frightening the near
Do not let drop the ladle of sacred wine:
Emerge fit to guard the ancestral shrine,
the altars to place (and) to grain
(And) thereby perform the offerings (with) mastery
5th Line
speech, words, talk, expression
艮其輔，言有序，悔亡。
Stilling those jawbones
Words will have order
Regrets pass
→ 05.2
1st Line
(a) talk, discussion; criticism, critique (s)
鴻漸于干，小子厲，有言，無咎。
The wild geese advance by degrees to the shoreline
The little fledgling* is struggling
There will be criticism
But not blame
→ 05.2
Homophones (yan)
焉yan2herein, therein; here, there, in that situation嚴yan2dignity, solemnity, gravity, reserve(ations)揜yan3(is) covered over, enclosed; shut, penned in衍yan3(a, the) abundan ce, fullness (of flow), flow宴yan4relaxed; at leisure, (with) peace of mind, rest燕yan4comfort, calm, satisfy (ing); rest, peace, ease
Previous焉 yan2
Nextyan2 嚴
Help improve this resource
Spot a typo or have a suggestion? We'd love to hear from you.