不知所措
不知所措 (bù zhī suǒ cuò) literally means “not knowing where to put hands and feet” and expresses “at a loss; not knowing what to do”. 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 zhi suo cuo, bu zhi suo cuo,不知所措 meaning, 不知所措 in english
At a loss; not knowing what to do
Pronunciation: bù zhī suǒ cuò
Literal meaning: Not knowing where to put hands and feet
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes not (不) knowing (知) where to (所) place oneself (措). The character 措 relates to arranging or placing, suggesting complete confusion about how to position or comport oneself. The phrase captures the paralysis of unexpected situations that render previous knowledge useless. It appeared in historical texts describing officials facing unprecedented crises. Modern usage describes being at a complete loss, overwhelmed by circumstances that leave one unable to decide how to respond.
Examples
English: "Faced with the sudden crisis, the team was at a loss."
Chinese: 面对突如其来的危机，团队不知所措。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不知所措 mean in English?
不知所措 (bù zhī suǒ cuò) literally translates to “Not knowing where to put hands and feet” and is used to express “At a loss; not knowing what to do”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 不知所措 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving at a loss; not knowing what to do.
What is the pinyin for 不知所措?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不知所措 is “bù zhī suǒ cuò”.