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To speak continuously and at length without stopping, often in a fluent or voluble manner.
会议上，小李滔滔不绝地介绍了新项目的细节。
During the meeting, Xiao Li talked endlessly about the details of the new project.
她一旦打开话匣子，就滔滔不绝，没完没了。
Once she starts talking, she never stops—she just goes on and on.
Often implies fluent speech but not necessarily meaningful content. Can be used neutrally or slightly negatively depending on context.
While '滔滔不绝' describes fluent speech, it often implies excessive talking. In formal writing or professional settings, opt for more neutral phrases like '侃侃而谈' (eloquent and composed) or '详细阐述' (detailed explanation).
Reserve '滔滔不绝' for situations where the speaker's fluency borders on verbosity. It is not suitable for describing concise or structured presentations.
The idiom originates from the Confucian classic '论语·先进' (Analects of Confucius, Book of Rites), where it describes Confucius' disciple Zeng Xi as speaking '滔滔如流水' (like a flowing river). The phrase combines '滔滔' (flowing endlessly) and '不绝' (unceasing) to depict uninterrupted speech.
Primarily used to describe someone speaking at length with fluency. While generally neutral, it can carry a slightly negative connotation if the speaker is perceived as overly verbose or lacking substance. Avoid using for formal presentations unless the context allows for expressive speech.