百思不解
百思不解 (bǎi sī bù jiě) literally means “think a hundred times still not understand” and expresses “unable to understand despite much thought”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: bai si bu jie, bai si bu jie,百思不解 meaning, 百思不解 in english
Unable to understand despite much thought
Pronunciation: bǎi sī bù jiě Literal meaning: Think a hundred times still not understand
Origin & Usage
To have turned it over a hundred (百) times in thought (思) and still not (不) got it undone (解). 解 is loosening a knot, which is the right image: this is not ignorance but a problem that has been worked at and has not come apart. The hundred counts attempts rather than anything real. Other people's behaviour above all — a decision nobody can account for, a resignation with no reason given — and there is usually frustration in it, because the speaker has honestly tried.
Examples
English: "No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't understand his decision."
Chinese: 无论她怎么想，都对他的决定百思不解。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
左思右想
zuǒ sī yòu xiǎng
Ponder thoroughly
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若有所思
ruò yǒu suǒ sī
Lost in thought with a contemplative expression
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百尺竿头
bǎi chǐ gān tóu
Already at a very high level of attainment
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千锤百炼
qiān chuí bǎi liàn
Perfected through repeated refinement
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百发百中
bǎi fā bǎi zhòng
Perfect accuracy every single time
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百年大计
bǎi nián dà jì
Long-term plan; matter of lasting importance
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百无聊赖
bǎi wú liáo lài
Utterly bored; at loose ends
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不求甚解
bù qiú shèn jiě
Content with superficial understanding
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 百思不解 mean in English?
百思不解 (bǎi sī bù jiě) literally translates to “Think a hundred times still not understand” and is used to express “Unable to understand despite much thought”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 百思不解 used?
Situation: No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't understand his decision.
What is the pinyin for 百思不解?
The pinyin pronunciation for 百思不解 is “bǎi sī bù jiě”.
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