Chinese Conversation · Level 80
91 words
Chinese word
不分青红皂白
Pronunciation
Pinyinbù fēn qīng hóng zào bái
Meaning
- idiomindiscriminately
Example
他不分青红皂白地批评别人。tā bù fēn qīng hóng zào bái dì pī píng bié rén
He criticizes others indiscriminately.
More examples
她总是不分青红皂白地相信别人的话。tā zǒng shì bù fēn qīng hóng zào bái dì xiāng xìn bié rén de huà
She always believes what other people say indiscriminately.
Core concept
A failure to separate important cases, leaving every person or matter to receive the same unchecked treatment.
Common phrases
不分青红皂白地批评bù fēn qīng hóng zào bái dì pī píng
criticize indiscriminately
不分青红皂白地指责bù fēn qīng hóng zào bái dì zhǐ zé
blame indiscriminately
对人不分青红皂白duì rén bù fēn qīng hóng zào bái
treat people indiscriminately
Similar words
不问青红皂白bú wèn qīng hóng zào bái: Dealing with something without first asking about the facts, reasons, or circumstances.
不分是非bù fēn shì fēi: Failing to tell right from wrong when judging or treating people or matters.
一概而论yí gài ér lùn: Lumping all cases together and ignoring the differences between their circumstances.
混为一谈hùn wéi yì tán: Lumping different things together and presenting them as if they were the same.
Definition in Chinese
不加区分地对人或事都用同样的态度或处理，常带有轻率或否定的含义。bù jiā qū fēn dì duì rén huò shì dōu yòng tóng yàng de tài dù huò chú lǐ cháng dài yǒu qīng shuài huò fǒu dìng de hán yì
Word origin
The wording lists 青 (qīng, "blue-green"), 红 (hóng, "red"), 皂 (zào, "black"), and 白 (bái, "white") after 不分 (bùfēn, "not distinguish"), creating a picture of treating different cases alike.
Usage tips
- English speakers may first take the color words literally, but ordinary use concerns a person's conduct or judgment, not eyesight or color perception.
Other meanings
- without judgmentidiom
Opposites
- 明辨是非míng biàn shì fēidistinguish right from wrongidiom
- 分清是非fēn qīng shì fēidistinguish right from wrongidiom