<p>I don't think either of 白呼 and 夸白 is used in formal text. Both 白呼 and 夸白 are phonetic notations of colloquial dialects in some parts of China. They just function like Pinyin. 白呼 is only used by people from 华北, which I've never heard before. 夸白 is commonly used by people from 湖北, which I once used in my composition and was caught by my Chinese teacher. Such kind of phonetic notations do not mean anything in written standard Chinese. I would say they are 错别字. </p>

<p>I've just looked up 白 in 新华词典 to make sure that none of the meanings of 白 is related to nonsense.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T05:17:50.493Z
+1 for pointing out where 夸白 is commonly used. But are you sure they're only phonetic notations? 白 as in 白丁 can be found in [康熙字典](http://www.zdic.net/z/1f/kx/767D.htm).
Stan
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2013-10-03T05:27:49.817Z
@Stan As in "往来有白丁", "白丁" is very formal Chinese, which can for sure be found in dictionaries. However, I don't think 夸白 as a phrase can be found in any formal Chinese text.
Terry Li
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T05:44:02.487Z
Hmm, it is so-called [方言本字探寻问题](http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9C%AC%E5%AD%97) (problem of character's original form for dialects). Though dialectal words may not be found in "formal Chinese text", there're some situations that they can appear naturally. For example, in novels, essays, etc., you can write some dialectal conversations using them -- Yet this is another topic. Back to the original question, it is kind of historical research work, 白呼/夸白 can indeed originate from the meaning of 白丁. And yes, it will be tough work to prove that.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T06:06:01.240Z
@Stan Thanks for the wikipedia page for 本字, which is very interesting. I have a feeling that 白呼/夸白 might not originate from 白丁 since the three 白 are used as adverb, noun, and adjective respectively.
Terry Li
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T06:19:32.740Z
I'm not sure either :D But the reason from the lexical category isn't sound, because ancient Chinese didn't classify words so clearly.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T07:44:22.410Z
Sometimes I feel it may not be an appropriate methodology to apply the grammar analysis of Indo-European languages to Chinese... It's so different...
user58955
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T04:28:57.307Z
2013-10-03T04:28:57.307Z
Terry Li
<p>One of the meanings of 白 is, roughly "in vain":</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>没有成就的，没有效果的：～忙。～说</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I think it's easier to imagine how white/plain become "without effect" than it is to imagine how it became "nonsense".</p>

<p><em>P.S. 白话 means "plain speech" = vernacular, as far as i know.</em></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T03:32:29.893Z
白话 is also [slang for "empty talk"](http://baike.baidu.com/subview/44581/9735631.htm)
congusbongus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T03:35:34.097Z
It is common to hear people to say 说白话, meaning say it plainly or "get to the point". Never heard of it to mean empty talk congusbongus.
grayQuant
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T05:16:43.567Z
Anyway, without context, 白话 is ambiguous.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T02:57:33.913Z
2013-10-03T02:57:33.913Z
Stumpy Joe Pete
<p>There are a number of Chinese words containing the 白 character that all mean &quot;nonsense&quot; or &quot;speaking nonsense&quot;:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>白呼</p>
<p>夸白</p>
<p>白话</p>
</blockquote>
<p>What's the significance of 白 in these words? 白 usually means &quot;white&quot;, &quot;clear&quot; or &quot;plain&quot;, so how did it become associated with nonsense? And is this related at all with the word 扯淡, which also means nonsense but originally meant 淡化 (water down)?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T02:22:33.230Z
Could it be short for 白痴?
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T02:45:32.543Z
@QuestionOverflow what does the 白 in 白痴 mean?
congusbongus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T03:15:15.190Z
白呼...is this standard mandarin? I feel it more like a regional word in north china...?
user58955
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T03:43:20.317Z
I guess its original meaning is not "nonsense" but "**uneducated**". Like in `谈笑有鸿儒，往来无白丁`, [白丁](http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%99%BD%E4%B8%81) is a man who has no scholarly honor or official rank in the feudal age, i.e. commonly who is uneducated. 白丁 was so-called because they usually wear **white** coat. And in `一穷二白`, similarly, 白 means the undeveloped status of culture. So, in 白呼, "uneducated talk" => "senseless chat".
Stan
<meaning><etymology><synonyms><slang>
Meaning of 白 in words for "nonsense"?
# Meaning of 白 in words for "nonsense"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-10-03)

There are a number of Chinese words containing the 白 character that all mean "nonsense" or "speaking nonsense":

> 白呼
>
> 夸白
>
> 白话

What's the significance of 白 in these words? 白 usually means "white", "clear" or "plain", so how did it become associated with nonsense? And is this related at all with the word 扯淡, which also means nonsense but originally meant 淡化 (water down)?

**Tags:** meaning, etymology, synonyms, slang

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Could it be short for 白痴?  
> **username_0**: @QuestionOverflow what does the 白 in 白痴 mean?  
> **username_2**: 白呼...is this standard mandarin? I feel it more like a regional word in north china...?  
> **username_3**: I guess its original meaning is not "nonsense" but "**uneducated**". Like in `谈笑有鸿儒，往来无白丁`, [白丁](http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%99%BD%E4%B8%81) is a man who has no scholarly honor or official rank in the feudal age, i.e. commonly who is uneducated. 白丁 was so-called because they usually wear **white** coat. And in `一穷二白`, similarly, 白 means the undeveloped status of culture. So, in 白呼, "uneducated talk" => "senseless chat".  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2013-10-03. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

One of the meanings of 白 is, roughly "in vain":

> 没有成就的，没有效果的：～忙。～说

I think it's easier to imagine how white/plain become "without effect" than it is to imagine how it became "nonsense".

*P.S. 白话 means "plain speech" = vernacular, as far as i know.*

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: 白话 is also [slang for "empty talk"](http://baike.baidu.com/subview/44581/9735631.htm)  
> **username_6**: It is common to hear people to say 说白话, meaning say it plainly or "get to the point". Never heard of it to mean empty talk username_0.  
> **username_3**: Anyway, without context, 白话 is ambiguous.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-10-03. Score: 1

I don't think either of 白呼 and 夸白 is used in formal text. Both 白呼 and 夸白 are phonetic notations of colloquial dialects in some parts of China. They just function like Pinyin. 白呼 is only used by people from 华北, which I've never heard before. 夸白 is commonly used by people from 湖北, which I once used in my composition and was caught by my Chinese teacher. Such kind of phonetic notations do not mean anything in written standard Chinese. I would say they are 错别字.

I've just looked up 白 in 新华词典 to make sure that none of the meanings of 白 is related to nonsense.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: +1 for pointing out where 夸白 is commonly used. But are you sure they're only phonetic notations? 白 as in 白丁 can be found in [康熙字典](http://www.zdic.net/z/1f/kx/767D.htm).  
> **username_4**: @username_3 As in "往来有白丁", "白丁" is very formal Chinese, which can for sure be found in dictionaries. However, I don't think 夸白 as a phrase can be found in any formal Chinese text.  
> **username_3**: Hmm, it is so-called [方言本字探寻问题](http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9C%AC%E5%AD%97) (problem of character's original form for dialects). Though dialectal words may not be found in "formal Chinese text", there're some situations that they can appear naturally. For example, in novels, essays, etc., you can write some dialectal conversations using them -- Yet this is another topic. Back to the original question, it is kind of historical research work, 白呼/夸白 can indeed originate from the meaning of 白丁. And yes, it will be tough work to prove that.  
> **username_4**: @username_3 Thanks for the wikipedia page for 本字, which is very interesting. I have a feeling that 白呼/夸白 might not originate from 白丁 since the three 白 are used as adverb, noun, and adjective respectively.  
> **username_3**: I'm not sure either :D But the reason from the lexical category isn't sound, because ancient Chinese didn't classify words so clearly.  
> **username_2**: Sometimes I feel it may not be an appropriate methodology to apply the grammar analysis of Indo-European languages to Chinese... It's so different...  

---

