不痛不痒
不痛不痒 (bù tòng bù yǎng) literally means “neither painful nor itchy” and expresses “ineffective and inconsequential”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: bu tong bu yang, bu tong bu yang,不痛不痒 meaning, 不痛不痒 in english
Ineffective and inconsequential
Pronunciation: bù tòng bù yǎng
Literal meaning: Neither painful nor itchy
Origin & Usage
This sensory idiom describes something neither (不) painful (痛) nor (不) itchy (痒), originating from Song Dynasty medical texts. It initially described symptoms too mild to definitively diagnose or require treatment. The pairing was meaningful as pain and itching represented the two primary categories of bodily discomfort in traditional Chinese medicine. During the Ming Dynasty, it evolved beyond medical contexts to describe ineffective actions or non-committal responses. Unlike terms for simple inadequacy, it specifically criticizes lack of meaningful impact despite apparent activity. Modern usage describes half-hearted efforts, lukewarm positions, or vague statements that deliberately avoid addressing core issues, particularly in political or corporate communication.
Examples
English: "The committee issued a vague statement that addressed none of the real concerns"
Chinese: 委员会发表了一份模糊的声明，没有解决任何实际问题
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不痛不痒 mean in English?
不痛不痒 (bù tòng bù yǎng) literally translates to “Neither painful nor itchy” and is used to express “Ineffective and inconsequential”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 不痛不痒 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving ineffective and inconsequential.
What is the pinyin for 不痛不痒?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不痛不痒 is “bù tòng bù yǎng”.