密不透风
密不透风 (mì bù tòu fēng) literally means “so dense wind cannot penetrate” and expresses “airtight; impenetrable”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: mi bu tou feng, mi bu tou feng,密不透风 meaning, 密不透风 in english
Airtight; impenetrable
Pronunciation: mì bù tòu fēng Literal meaning: So dense wind cannot penetrate
Origin & Usage
So close-packed (密) that no (不) wind (风) gets through (透). Air is the test, as water is in 滴水不漏, and it is the more demanding of the two. The phrase covers physical crowding and, far more often, information: a secret 密不透风 is one that nothing has leaked from. Security arrangements, and families who have kept something quiet for years, sometimes with a note of unease at how well it was done.
Examples
English: "Security was so tight that nothing could get through."
Chinese: 安保密不透风。
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Gentle, nurturing influence
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Perfect moment of opportunity
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 密不透风 mean in English?
密不透风 (mì bù tòu fēng) literally translates to “So dense wind cannot penetrate” and is used to express “Airtight; impenetrable”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 密不透风 used?
Situation: Security was so tight that nothing could get through.
What is the pinyin for 密不透风?
The pinyin pronunciation for 密不透风 is “mì bù tòu fēng”.