Correct

弦外音

/ xián wài yīn /
Strokes
https://i.cchatty2.com/filters:format(webp)/fit-in/684x0/img/202102/弦外音-Chinese-idioms-Cchatty-4d9037b1-9bc2-4927-9ab5-b59e9422d2e6-1612777041.jpg

Collocation

1
他的弦外之音是……
2
听出/捕捉/注意某人的弦外音

Definition

弦外音

Literally means:

the sound beyond the strings

Actually means:

It figuratively refers to the implied meaning, or to what the speaker does not say directly.

比喻话中有没明确表示出来的意思。多用来指说话人没有直截了当说出来的事情。

Example

Used as object or subject. It can be used with other words in between. (作宾语、主语,中间可插入其他词语)
1
jīng
已经
tīng
chū
de
xián
wài
yīn
le
,
shì
zài
yuàn
méiyǒu
没有
huā
力气
bāng
de
máng

I've heard his voice-over, and he's complaining that I didn't do much to help him.

2
shuō
de
děng
zhāo
qiáo
,
xiánwàizhīyīn
弦外之音
jiā
大家
dōu
qīngchu
清楚
,
jiùshìshuō
就是说
huì
huílai
回来
bào
报复
de

He said "wait and see", the voice outside the string everyone knows, that is, he will come back to retaliate.

3
de
shàngsi
上司
shuōhuà
说话
hěn
hán
含蓄
,
不得不
fèijìn
费劲
zhuō
捕捉
de
xiánwàiyīn
弦外音

My boss spoke so implicitly that I had to struggle to capture his voice-over.