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交头接耳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
交头接耳jiāotóujiē’ěrto whisper to one another's earHSK 7, unknown, 28 strokes, rank #35095, Very Hard
jiāotóujiē’ěr(jiao1tou2jie1er3)jiao tou jie er T1
  1. 1to whisper to one another's ear
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March 24, 2026

交头接耳(交頭接耳)jiāotóujiē’ěr(jiao1tou2jie1er3)

交头接耳 is an idiom that describes the act of whispering or speaking secretly to one another, often in a conspiratorial or intimate manner. It is commonly used to convey a sense of secrecy or gossip among individuals in a close setting.

Strokes28Frequency#35095DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the act of whispering to convey secrets is often seen as a sign of trust and intimacy between friends or close acquaintances, reflecting the value placed on close personal relationships.

Memory tip

Imagine two friends, one with a head that looks like a '交' (crossing) and another with ears poised to '接' (receive). They lean in closely, sharing secrets, making the word memorable as they literally connect their heads and ears to communicate.

Meanings of 交头接耳

jiāotóujiē’ěr(jiao1tou2jie1er3)
1to whisper to one another's ear
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About 交头接耳

交头接耳Simplified
交頭接耳Traditional
28Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 交头接耳

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AI study notes for 交头接耳

Quick Contrast

耳语 (whisper) — use 交头接耳 when emphasizing the act of whispering between two people, often with a conspiratorial tone, while 耳语 is more general for whispering.

Usage Notes

This idiom is informal and commonly used in casual conversations. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with more formal expressions of communication. It often collocates with words like '秘密' (secret) or ' gossip'.

HSK Study Tips

While not included in standard HSK lists, the idiom can be related to HSK vocabulary around communication and social interactions. Students should focus on understanding context and emotional tones when using this phrase.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse this idiom by applying it in formal situations or misunderstanding its meaning, such as saying '交头接耳' when referring to general conversation instead of whispering. Ensure to reserve it for contexts involving secrets or gossip.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 交头接耳

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Idiom spotlight: 交头接耳

Chengyu origin story
Literal meaning:intersect head connect ear

Component characters

交jiāoto hand over
HSK 46 strokes亠
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头tóuhead
HSK 25 strokes大
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接jiēto receive
HSK 311 strokes扌
View full entry
耳ěrear
HSK 16 strokes耳
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How to say to whisper to one another's ear in Chinese

“to whisper to one another's ear” in Chinese is交头接耳jiāotóujiē’ěr

交头接耳 is an idiom that describes the act of whispering or speaking secretly to one another, often in a conspiratorial or intimate manner. It is commonly used to convey a sense of secrecy or gossip among individuals in a close setting.

When to use 交头接耳

This idiom is informal and commonly used in casual conversations. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with more formal expressions of communication. It often collocates with words like '秘密' (secret) or ' gossip'.

交头接耳 or something close to it

耳语 (whisper) — use 交头接耳 when emphasizing the act of whispering between two people, often with a conspiratorial tone, while 耳语 is more general for whispering.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse this idiom by applying it in formal situations or misunderstanding its meaning, such as saying '交头接耳' when referring to general conversation instead of whispering. Ensure to reserve it for contexts involving secrets or gossip.

Write 交头接耳

交
头
接
耳

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Cultural Notes for 交头接耳

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, whispering may sometimes carry a more negative connotation, implying secrecy or deceit, whereas in Chinese culture, it can simply denote a close bond.

Frequently asked questions about 交头接耳

No, 交头接耳 is informal and best suited for casual conversations.

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