Chinese idiom · 成语
旁敲侧击
Meaning
To knock from the side; indirect criticism or probing.
Character by character
Origin and story
Literary commentaryA cited Qing use comes from Dan Minglun's commentary on Xin Zheng Song, a story in Liaozhai Zhiyi. Dan observes that some matters cannot be cleared up immediately, even when clues exist, and that direct verbal argument may fail. He advocates approaching the central issue indirectly, using a subsidiary matter to reveal what happened.
The expression belongs to the commentator's discussion of method, rather than necessarily to Pu Songling's original narration. Its image is of knocking or striking from the side instead of head-on. It now describes indirect questioning, hints, or oblique criticism. The dictionary treats this passage as a possible origin, not a proven first use.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
为了准备生日惊喜，我旁敲侧击地问了她最近想买什么。
To prepare a birthday surprise, I indirectly asked what she had been wanting to buy lately.
Can be tactful or evasive depending on context; does not necessarily mean criticism.