Chinese word

不得而知

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù dé ér zhī

Meaning

  • idiombe impossible to know

Example

明天的结果目前不得而知。míng tiān de jié guǒ mù qián bù dé ér zhī

It is currently impossible to know tomorrow's result.

Illustration for 不得而知 (be impossible to know)

More examples

调查的细节目前不得而知。diào chá de xì jié mù qián bù dé ér zhī

The details of the investigation are currently impossible to know.

Core concept

A gap in the needed facts leaves the answer out of reach for now.

Common phrases

  • 目前不得而知mù qián bù dé ér zhī

    currently impossible to know

  • 具体情况不得而知jù tǐ qíng kuàng bù dé ér zhī

    the specific circumstances are impossible to know

  • 细节不得而知xì jié bù dé ér zhī

    the details are impossible to know

Similar words

无从得知wú cóng dé zhī: Remain unknowable when no information or method can reveal the answer.

Definition in Chinese

因为缺乏必要的信息或条件，暂时无法知道某事的真相或结果。yīn wèi quē fá bì yào de xìn xī huò tiáo jiàn zàn shí wú fǎ zhī dào mǒu shì de zhēn xiàng huò jié guǒ

Word origin

The classical pattern 不 (bù, "not") + 得 (dé, "be able to") + 而 (ér, "and") + 知 (zhī, "know") presents knowing as impossible because the needed information or conditions are missing.

Usage tips

  • Its subject is often a result, reason, or truth, so it works well for neutral updates about an unresolved matter and sounds less casual than ordinary spoken phrasing.

Other meanings

  • be unknownidiom
  • be unclearidiom

Opposites

Word lists with this word