HSK · Level 78
45 words
Chinese word
素不相识
Pronunciation
Pinyinsù bù xiāng shí
Meaning
- idiombe strangers
Example
他和我素不相识，我只知道他的名字。tā hé wǒ sù bù xiāng shí wǒ zhǐ zhī dào tā de míng zì
He and I are strangers; I only know his name.
More examples
在社交场合，他发现和很多人素不相识，只能简单寒暄。zài shè jiāo chǎng hé tā fā xiàn hé hěn duō rén sù bù xiāng shí zhǐ néng jiǎn dān hán xuān
At social events, he found that he was a stranger to many people and could only exchange simple greetings.
Core concept
Two people remain complete outsiders to each other, with no past encounter tying them together.
Common phrases
彼此素不相识bí cǐ sù bù xiāng shí
be strangers to one another
与对方素不相识yǔ duì fāng sù bù xiāng shí
be strangers to the other person
Similar words
素昧平生sù mèi píng shēng: Describes people with no previous meeting or personal familiarity.
Definition in Chinese
形容彼此完全没有认识或交往，互不相识。xíng róng bí cǐ wán quán méi yǒu rèn shí huò jiāo wǎng hù bù xiāng shí
Word origin
素不相识 (sùbùxiāngshí, "be strangers") joins 素 (sù, "from before") and 不相识 (bù xiāngshí, "not know each other"), giving the sense of having had no acquaintance at any earlier time.
Usage tips
- The idiom suits a complete absence of prior acquaintance, not merely a moment when someone fails to recognize a familiar person.
Other meanings
- have never metidiom