不可开交
不可开交 (bù kě kāi jiāo) literally means “cannot open and separate” and expresses “extremely busy; inextricably involved”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: bu ke kai jiao, bu ke kai jiao,不可开交 meaning, 不可开交 in english
Extremely busy; inextricably involved
Pronunciation: bù kě kāi jiāo Literal meaning: Cannot open and separate
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes being unable (不可) to open or separate (开交) - being so entangled in activity that one cannot extricate oneself. Originally describing situations of intense conflict where parties couldn't disengage, it evolved to describe being overwhelmingly busy. The phrase appeared in texts describing fierce battles or heated disputes. Modern usage commonly describes being extremely busy, deeply embroiled in conflict, or intensely occupied with demanding tasks.
Examples
English: "They were so busy they couldn't handle everything."
Chinese: 他们忙得不可开交。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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门庭若市
mén tíng ruò shì
Extremely popular
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不可开交 mean in English?
不可开交 (bù kě kāi jiāo) literally translates to “Cannot open and separate” and is used to express “Extremely busy; inextricably involved”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 不可开交 used?
Situation: They were so busy they couldn't handle everything.
What is the pinyin for 不可开交?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不可开交 is “bù kě kāi jiāo”.