万无一失
万无一失 (wàn wú yī shī) literally means “ten thousand without one failure” and expresses “absolutely sure; foolproof”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: wan wu yi shi, wan wu yi shi,万无一失 meaning, 万无一失 in english
Absolutely sure; foolproof
Pronunciation: wàn wú yī shī
Literal meaning: Ten thousand without one failure
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes ten thousand (万) attempts without (无) one (一) failure (失). It depicts absolute reliability with no margin for error. The phrase was used for guaranteed outcomes. Modern usage describes plans or methods considered absolutely foolproof, though often used with ironic awareness that nothing is truly perfect.
Examples
English: "The plan was designed to be absolutely foolproof."
Chinese: 计划设计得万无一失。
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Create a diversion; use misdirection
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 万无一失 mean in English?
万无一失 (wàn wú yī shī) literally translates to “Ten thousand without one failure” and is used to express “Absolutely sure; foolproof”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 万无一失 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving absolutely sure; foolproof.
What is the pinyin for 万无一失?
The pinyin pronunciation for 万无一失 is “wàn wú yī shī”.