Shuōzhě wúyì; tīngzhě (/wénzhě) yǒuyì (/yǒuxīn).

說者無意, 聽者(/聞者)有意(/有心)。

Lit [Sometimes it happens that a] speaker had no [particular] intent, [but the] hearer had [something on his or her] mind [which caused the hearer to interpret what the speaker said in a certain way or to take offense].

Note [See also wúxīn rén shuōhuà above and yán zhě wúxīn below.]

Topics MINDS OFFENDING TALK UNDERSTANDING