Chinese word

无可厚非

Pronunciation

Pinyinwú kě hòu fēi

Meaning

  • idiomcannot be faulted

Example

无可厚非，他已经尽力了。wú kě hòu fēi tā yǐ jīng jìn lì le

He cannot be faulted; he has already done his best.

Illustration for 无可厚非 (cannot be faulted)

More examples

在那种情况下，他的做法无可厚非。zài nà zhǒng qíng kuàng xià tā de zuò fǎ wú kě hòu fēi

In that situation, his actions cannot be faulted.

Core concept

A flaw remains below the threshold for severe blame.

Common phrases

  • 无可厚非的做法wú kě hòu fēi de zuò fǎ

    an unobjectionable approach

  • 无可厚非的理由wú kě hòu fēi de lǐ yóu

    an unobjectionable reason

Similar words

情有可原qíng yóu kě yuán: Treats an action as understandable and forgivable in light of the circumstances.
无可非议wú kě fēi yì: Accepts that problems may exist while judging criticism difficult to justify.

Definition in Chinese

表示某种行为或结果虽然有缺点，但不足以受到严厉批评。biǎo shì móu zhǒng xíng wéi huò jié guǒ suī rán yǒu quē diǎn dàn bù zú yǐ shòu dào yán lì pī píng

Word origin

无可厚非 (wúkěhòufēi, "not deserving severe blame") combines 无 (wú, "not have") + 可 (kě, "can be") + 厚 (hòu, "heavy") + 非 (fēi, "blame") to show that heavy blame has no basis.

Usage tips

  • The idiom softens judgment rather than giving full approval, so it can acknowledge a weakness while recognizing the circumstances behind it.

Opposites

  • 罪无可赦zuì wú kě shèan unforgivable crimeidiom

Word lists with this word