Chinese word

一无所知

Pronunciation

Pinyinyī wú suǒ zhī

Meaning

  • idiomknow nothing

Example

关于那件事，我一无所知。guān yú nà jiàn shì wǒ yì wú suǒ zhī

I know nothing about that matter.

Illustration for 一无所知 (know nothing)

More examples

他对计算机安全一无所知，于是请教了专家。tā duì jì suàn jī ān quán yì wú suǒ zhī yú shì qǐng jiào le zhuān jiā

He knew nothing about computer security, so he asked an expert.

Core concept

A mind with no facts or clues about a particular matter.

Common phrases

  • 对一无所知duì yì wú suǒ zhī

    know nothing about

  • 对这件事一无所知duì zhè jiàn shì yì wú suǒ zhī

    know nothing about this matter

Similar words

毫无所知háo wú suǒ zhī: Having absolutely no knowledge or information about a matter.
一窍不通yí qiào bù tōng: Having no understanding at all of a particular field, subject, or skill.
一无所闻yì wú suǒ wén: Having heard no news or reports at all about a matter.
毫不知情háo bù zhī qíng: Being completely uninformed about a matter, with no information received about the situation.

Definition in Chinese

表示对某事毫无所知，强调既不掌握事实也没有任何线索，常用于否认或表明完全不了解的程度。biǎo shì duì mǒu shì háo wú suǒ zhī qiáng diào jì bù zhǎng wò shì shí yě méi yǒu rèn hé xiàn suǒ cháng yòng yú fǒu rèn huò biǎo míng wán quán bù liáo jiě de chéng dù

Word origin

一无所知 (yīwúsuǒzhī, "know nothing") combines 一 (yī, "one") + 无 (wú, "without") with 所 (suǒ, "that which") + 知 (zhī, "know"), making even the smallest piece of knowable information absent.

Usage tips

  • The four-character form is emphatic and often sounds more formal or written than a casual English "I don't know", so it suits a firm statement of complete lack of information rather than a quick reply.

Opposites

Word lists with this word