Yán zhě wúxīn; tīngzhě yǒuyì.

言者無心, 聽者有意。

Lit [Although] the speaker [had] no definite purpose, the listener [listened] with a definite purpose [in mind].

Fig One should be careful about loose talk.

Note [See also shuōzhě wúyì and wúxīn rén shuōhuà above.]

Topics CAUTION LISTENING MOTIVES SPEECH TALK