English–Chinese
“being turned away” in Chinese
Chinese
Pronunciation
Pinyinbì mén gēng
Example
他去应聘，结果吃了闭门羹。tā qù yìng pìn jié guǒ chī le bì mén gēng
He went to apply for a job, but he was turned away.
How to say “being turned away” in Chinese
“Being turned away” in Chinese is 闭门羹 (bì mén gēng).
A hoped-for welcome becomes a closed door and a refusal, whether the request concerns entry, help, or a meeting.
Example sentences with 闭门羹
他去拜访出版社，被编辑直接给了闭门羹。tā qù bài fǎng chū bǎn shè bèi biān jí zhí jiē gěi le bì mén gēng
He visited a publishing house, but the editor turned him away outright.
Tips for using 闭门羹
- In conversation, 吃 (chī, "eat") often comes before this noun, so a failed interview or unwelcome visit can be described with a food verb even when no meal is involved.