Chinese word

碰钉子

Pronunciation

Pinyinpèng dīng zi

Meaning

  • verbget turned down

Example

他去申请签证，结果碰钉子了。tā qù shēn qǐng qiān zhèng jié guǒ pèng dīng zi le

He applied for a visa, but got turned down.

Illustration for 碰钉子 (get turned down)

More examples

他提交了项目建议，结果在预算上碰钉子。tā tí jiāo le xiàng mù jiàn yì jié guǒ zài yù suàn shàng pèng dīng zi

He submitted a project proposal but got turned down over the budget.

Core concept

A request or attempt meets a hard stop, so progress cannot continue.

Common phrases

  • 签证申请中碰钉子qiān zhèng shēn qǐng zhōng pèng dīng zi

    get turned down when applying for a visa

  • 在审批过程中碰钉子zài shěn pī guò chéng zhōng pèng dīng zi

    get turned down during the approval process

  • 合作谈判中碰钉子hé zuò tán pàn zhōng pèng dīng zi

    hit a snag during cooperation talks

Similar words

拒绝jù jué: Say no to a request, offer, or demand and not accept it.
碰壁pèng bì: Hit a barrier that blocks progress in an effort or course of action.
受挫shòu cuò: Experience a setback after an effort goes poorly or fails.

Definition in Chinese

在办理、请求或尝试时被拒绝或遇到阻碍，进展受阻。zài bàn lǐ qǐng qiú huò cháng shì shí bèi jù jué huò yù dào zǔ ài jìn zhǎn shòu zǔ

Word origin

碰 (pèng, "hit") + 钉子 (dīngzi, "nail") creates the image of striking a nail and being stopped, which develops into meeting refusal or an obstacle.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, the obstacle may be a person, a missing document, or a rule, so the expression covers stalled procedures as well as a direct refusal.

Other meanings

  • hit a snagverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word