Word

不得而知 (bù dé ér zhī) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

不得而知 (bù dé ér zhī) is a Chinese word: unknown. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 不得而知

成语 chéng yǔ idiom

unknown

至于他为什么离开,我们不得而知。

zhì yú tā wèi shén me lí kāi wǒ men bù dé ér zhī

As for why he left, we don't know.

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Word breakdown

不 bù — not, negation marker

得 dé — able to, can obtain

而 ér — and thus, conjunctive particle

知 zhī — know, understand

Structure & writing
1 不 bù — not; no (negation before verbs, adjectives, or adverbs)
不 is a component in 8 characters

不 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

2 得 dé — to get; to obtain (opposite of 失)
Xpinyin

得 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

Stroke order

3 而 ér — conjunction linking verbs, adjectives, or clauses: ① connecting successive elements ② connecting complementary affirmative and negative elements ③ connecting contrasting elements (adversative) ④ connecting causally related elements
而 is a component in 3 characters

而 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

4 知 zhī — knowledge, learning
知 is a component in 2 characters

consists of

4.2 口 kǒu — mouth (organ for eating and drinking, sometimes part of the vocal apparatus)
口 is a component in 181 characters
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叮 dīng to sting or bite (of mosquitoes, etc., piercing skin to suck blood) 叹 tàn to sigh out of worry or sorrow 叼 diāo to hold in the mouth 吁 yù to appeal or call out for a demand 吏 lì government official in ancient times 君 jūn monarch; sovereign 吝 lìn miserly; stingy with one's possessions 吟 yín to chant or recite with a cadence 吩 fēn (colloq.) to instruct or order verbally; to tell someone to do something (used in 吩咐) 吭 kēng to make a sound; to speak 吻 wěn lips 吼 hǒu (of a fierce animal) to roar 呐 nà shout loudly; cry out (see 呐喊) 呕 ǒu to vomit 呛 qiàng to irritate the nose or throat (of a pungent or acrid gas) 呜 wū onomatopoeia for wind, whistles, crying, etc. 呵 hē to scold angrily 呻 shēn to chant; to recite 咀 jǔ to chew and savour slowly in the mouth 咐 fù to instruct or order verbally; to enjoin; to tell someone what to do or not to do 咕 gu onomatopoeia for the sound of a hen or certain birds clucking/cooing 咙 lóng throat; used in 喉咙 (throat) 咧 liě (of the mouth) open to one side; curl sideways 咽 yān pharynx (the muscular tube at the back of the mouth connecting the nasal cavity, oral cavity, and larynx) 哀 āi sorrowful; grieved 哄 hǒng to deceive; to cheat 哆 duō to shiver, tremble (as in 哆嗦) 哑 yǎ mute; unable to speak due to a physical defect or illness 哗 huá noisy and clamorous; loud and chaotic uproar 哨 shào to patrol, to scout 哺 bǔ to feed (a young child or animal); to nurse 哼 hēng to groan or moan in pain 哽 gěng to have food stuck in the throat 唆 suo to instigate; to incite someone to do wrong 唇 chún lip; the muscular tissue around the mouth of humans or certain animals 唐 táng boastful; exaggerated (in speech) 唠 láo see "唠叨": to talk endlessly; to nag 唤 huàn to call out loudly to get someone's attention or summon them 唬 hu 唾 tuò saliva; spittle 啃 kěn to gnaw; to nibble at something hard 啰 luō see '啰唆': (of speech) verbose; (of matters) trivial and troublesome; to repeat oneself tediously 啸 xiào to whistle (with pursed lips, producing a long clear sound) 喇 lǎ see 喇叭: ① wind instrument, narrow at top and flared at bottom, amplifies sound; ② horn-shaped object with amplifying function 喉 hóu larynx; throat (the organ connecting the pharynx and trachea, used for breathing and phonation) 喘 chuǎn to breathe rapidly; to pant 喧 xuān loud and noisy; clamorous 嗅 xiù to smell; to sniff and distinguish odors 嗜 shì to love, to have a particular fondness for 嗦 suo see '哆嗦': involuntary trembling of the body from external stimulation 嘀 dí used in "嘀咕": ① mutter to oneself; ② feel uneasy, be uncertain 嘈 cáo noisy; clamorous 嘱 zhǔ to enjoin; to instruct 噩 è frightful and ominous; horrifying and inauspicious 嚏 tì (lit.) to sneeze 嚣 xiāo noisy; clamorous 嚷 rǎng to shout loudly 嚼 jiáo to chew; to masticate 燕 yàn swallow (bird with small body, long pointed wings, and forked tail) 辟 pì incisive; penetrating; profound 鄙 bǐ vulgar; base; crude 鳄 è crocodile (large reptile, commonly called 鳄鱼) 鸣 míng (of birds) to chirp; (of animals or insects) to cry or make sounds

Stroke order