The Chinese idiom **甜言蜜语** (*tián yán mì yǔ*, meaning "sweet talk" or "honeyed words") is formed through a parallel and metaphorical compound structure. It couples two nearly synonymous word pairs: **甜言** ("sweet words") and **蜜语** ("honeyed speech"), where **甜** (sweet) and **蜜** (honey) are sensory metaphors for pleasantness and flattery, while **言** (words) and **语** (speech) are synonyms for verbal expression. This repetitive, rhythmic pairing intensifies the meaning, creating a vivid image of language that is enticingly sweet but often insincere, characteristic of many four-character idioms in Chinese that use duplication for emphasis.