Chinese word

不像话

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù xiàng huà

Meaning

  • adjectiveoutrageous

Example

他的行为真不像话。tā de xíng wéi zhēn bú xiàng huà

His behavior is really outrageous.

Illustration for 不像话 (outrageous)

More examples

孩子这样说话太不像话了。hái zi zhè yàng shuō huà tài bú xiàng huà le

A child talking like that is completely outrageous.

Core concept

A clear mismatch with basic sense or proper behavior makes an act or situation feel wildly out of bounds.

Common phrases

  • 说得不像话shuō de bú xiàng huà

    talk outrageously

  • 行为不像话xíng wéi bú xiàng huà

    improper behavior

  • 太不像话了tài bú xiàng huà le

    far too outrageous

Similar words

过火guò huǒ: Describes conduct or steps taken to an unreasonable degree, beyond what the situation calls for.
过分guò fèn: Describes an amount, degree, or action that is too much to be proper or suitable.
离谱lí pǔ: Describes something wildly outside the usual range and therefore difficult to believe.
不可接受bù kě jiē shòu: Describes something considered unsuitable and impossible to accept or allow.

Definition in Chinese

口语中常用来形容人或事极其离谱、让人无法接受的坏或不当情形。kóu yǔ zhōng cháng yòng lái xíng róng rén huò shì jí qí lí pǔ ràng rén wú fǎ jiē shòu de huài huò bú dàng qíng xíng

Word origin

The idiom combines 不 (bù, "not") + 像 (xiàng, "resemble") + 话 (huà, "words or reason") to picture conduct or circumstances that do not fit ordinary sense or proper standards.

Usage tips

  • Because it is conversational and strongly evaluative, it suits a spoken complaint about a concrete act or situation better than a detached official judgment.

Other meanings

  • unacceptableadjective
  • unbelievableadjective
  • improperadjective

Opposites

  • 像话xiàng huàreasonableadjective

Word lists with this word