不可思议
不可思议 (bù kě sī yì) literally means “cannot be thought discussed” and expresses “beyond comprehension or explanation”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: bu ke si yi, bu ke si yi,不可思议 meaning, 不可思议 in english
Beyond comprehension or explanation
Pronunciation: bù kě sī yì Literal meaning: Cannot be thought discussed
Origin & Usage
Early Buddhist sutras translated during the Eastern Han Dynasty brought us this description of matters that cannot (不可) be comprehended through thought or discussion (思议). Originally describing transcendent Buddha-realms beyond ordinary understanding, Tang Dynasty writers adopted it for any phenomena defying rational explanation. Today it perfectly captures moments when human comprehension meets its fundamental limits, from quantum physics to artistic genius.
Examples
English: "The quantum phenomenon defied all conventional understanding of physics"
Chinese: 这种量子现象违背了对物理学的所有常规理解
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不可思议 mean in English?
不可思议 (bù kě sī yì) literally translates to “Cannot be thought discussed” and is used to express “Beyond comprehension or explanation”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 不可思议 used?
Situation: The quantum phenomenon defied all conventional understanding of physics
What is the pinyin for 不可思议?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不可思议 is “bù kě sī yì”.
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