不伦不类
不伦不类 (bù lún bù lèi) literally means “not of this kind nor of that” and expresses “incoherent or inappropriate”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: bu lun bu lei, bu lun bu lei,不伦不类 meaning, 不伦不类 in english
Incoherent or inappropriate
Pronunciation: bù lún bù lèi Literal meaning: Not of this kind nor of that
Origin & Usage
Neither in the proper relation (不伦) nor of the proper kind (不类). 伦 is the word used for the cardinal human relationships, so both halves are about category — the thing has no place in any recognised order. English reaches for neither fish nor fowl, which matches the sense but understates the disapproval. Clothes, translations, buildings and behaviour, and the complaint is always that something has been assembled out of parts that do not belong together.
Examples
English: "His style of writing is so unique that it doesn't fit into any specific genre."
Chinese: 他的写作风格不伦不类，无法归入任何特定的类型。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
无与伦比
wú yǔ lún bǐ
Incomparable; unparalleled
Learn more →
天伦之乐
tiān lún zhī lè
Family happiness
Learn more →
物以类聚
wù yǐ lèi jù
Like attracts like
Learn more →
出类拔萃
chū lèi bá cuì
Excellence that outshines all others
Learn more →
有教无类
yǒu jiào wú lèi
Teach anyone, whatever their station
Learn more →
触类旁通
chù lèi páng tōng
Apply knowledge broadly
Learn more →
举棋不定
jǔ qí bù dìng
Indecisive hesitation
Learn more →
乐不思蜀
lè bù sī shǔ
Too content to think of home
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不伦不类 mean in English?
不伦不类 (bù lún bù lèi) literally translates to “Not of this kind nor of that” and is used to express “Incoherent or inappropriate”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 不伦不类 used?
Situation: His style of writing is so unique that it doesn't fit into any specific genre.
What is the pinyin for 不伦不类?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不伦不类 is “bù lún bù lèi”.