Chinese word

不可胜数

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù kě shèng shǔ

Meaning

  • idiomcountless

Example

天上的星星不可胜数，夜空很美。tiān shàng de xīng xīng bù kě shèng shǔ yè kōng hěn měi

There are countless stars in the sky, and the night sky is beautiful.

Illustration for 不可胜数 (countless)

More examples

这座城市的景点不可胜数，每次来都有新发现。zhè zuò chéng shì de jíng diǎn bù kě shèng shǔ měi cì lái dōu yǒu xīn fā xiàn

This city has countless attractions, and every visit brings a new discovery.

Core concept

A crowd or collection so large that a complete count remains out of reach.

Common phrases

  • 多得不可胜数duō de bù kě shèng shǔ

    too many to count

  • 景点不可胜数jíng diǎn bù kě shèng shǔ

    countless attractions

Similar words

数不胜数shǔ bú shèng shǔ: So many people or things that counting them all is impossible.
不计其数bú jì qí shù: An extremely large number that cannot be counted or worked out exactly.
不胜枚举bú shèng méi jǔ: So many examples or items that they cannot all be named one by one.
多如牛毛duō rú niú máo: Extremely numerous, like the hairs on an ox.

Definition in Chinese

数量极大，多到无法一一列举。shù liàng jí dà duō dào wú fǎ yì yí liè jǔ

Word origin

不可胜数 (bùkěshèngshǔ, "too numerous to count") preserves an old structure in which counting is declared impossible to finish, which explains its strong, literary tone.

Usage tips

  • The idiom suits descriptions and emphatic comments, but it can sound formal in casual conversation, where a plain expression for a large amount is usually more natural.

Opposites

  • 屈指可数qū zhí ké shǔfew enough to count on one handidiom

Word lists with this word