Chinese word

无可奉告

Pronunciation

Pinyinwú kě fèng gào

Meaning

  • idiomno comment

Example

记者问他，他说：无可奉告。jì zhě wèn tā tā shuō wú kě fèng gào

The reporter asked him, and he said, "No comment."

Illustration for 无可奉告 (no comment)

More examples

总统在记者会上对丑闻指控无可奉告。zóng tǒng zài jì zhě huì shàng duì chǒu wén zhǐ kòng wú kě fèng gào

The president gave no comment on the scandal allegations at the press conference.

Core concept

A closed information door that offers no usable answer.

Common phrases

  • 以无可奉告回应yǐ wú kě fèng gào huí yìng

    respond with no comment

  • 面对质问说无可奉告miàn duì zhì wèn shuō wú kě fèng gào

    say no comment when questioned

  • 在记者会上表示无可奉告zài jì zhě huì shàng biǎo shì wú kě fèng gào

    state no comment at a press conference

Similar words

不予置评bù yǔ zhì píng: A concise official statement declining to express a view about an issue.
拒不回答jù bù huí dá: Refusing outright to respond to a question.
不便透露bú biàn tòu lù: Declining to reveal information because the circumstances make disclosure unsuitable.
保持沉默bǎo chí chén mò: Keeping silent and making no statement.

Definition in Chinese

表示因无法或不愿提供信息而拒绝回答对方提问的固定表述，常用于媒体采访或官方声明等正式场合。biǎo shì yīn wú fǎ huò bú yuàn tí gōng xìn xī ér jù jué huí dá duì fāng tí wèn de gù dìng biǎo shù cháng yòng yú méi tǐ cái fǎng huò guān fāng shēng míng děng zhèng shì chǎng hé

Word origin

无 (wú, "not have") + 可 (kě, "can") suggest that nothing can be offered, while 奉 (fèng, "present respectfully") + 告 (gào, "tell") give the reply its formal tone.

Usage tips

  • In casual Chinese, this expression sounds like a press statement, while everyday speakers usually choose a softer way to say that a matter cannot be discussed.

Opposites

  • 开诚布公kāi chéng bù gōngbe open and honestidiom
  • 直言不讳zhí yán bú huìspeak franklyidiom

Word lists with this word