Dictionary entry
chin-wagging
noun
闲聊；聊天
light informal conversation for social occasions
非正式用词
- 1.
light informal conversation for social occasions
In use
The two colleagues enjoyed some chin-wagging during their lunch break.
Chin-wagging with old friends at the reunion brought back many happy memories.
We had a bit of chin-wagging before the meeting started.
chin-wagging about sth
chin-wagging 不可数，常用结构。
We had some chin-wagging about the latest gossip.
我们闲聊了一些最新八卦。
enjoy chin-wagging with sb
She enjoys chin-wagging with her neighbors.
她喜欢和邻居闲聊。
a bit of chin-wagging
We had a bit of chin-wagging over coffee.
我们边喝咖啡边闲聊了一会儿。
Common mistakes
They were chin-wagging all afternoon.They were having a chin-wag all afternoon.
Chin-wagging 是名词，表示闲聊这一活动，不能直接用作谓语动词。正确的表达是使用 have a chin-wag 短语。
I had a nice chin-wagging with him.I had a nice chin-wag with him.
Chin-wagging 作为活动名词通常不可数，不应用不定冠词修饰；而 chin-wag 是可数名词，表示一次闲聊，用不定冠词更自然。
Connections
Confusing words
- small talk
- 闲聊 · chin-wagging 更为口语化且带有轻松戏谑的语气，而 small talk 更常用于描述社交场合中礼貌性的简短交谈。
- chitchat
- 闲聊 · chitchat 与 chin-wagging 意思相近，但 chitchat 更常见于美式英语，而 chin-wagging 是英式口语。
Learner notes
Grammar Note
通常作不可数名词，指长时间的闲聊。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WORDNET.