一窍不通
一窍不通 (yī qiào bù tōng) literally means “not understand a single aperture” and expresses “completely ignorant”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: yi qiao bu tong, yi qiao bu tong,一窍不通 meaning, 一窍不通 in english
Completely ignorant
Pronunciation: yī qiào bù tōng Literal meaning: Not understand a single aperture
Origin & Usage
The idiom 一窍不通 (yī qiào bù tōng) originates from a story in the Warring States period, recorded in the text 《吕氏春秋》 (Lǚshì Chūnqiū). It tells of King Zhou of Shang (纣王, Zhòu Wáng), a tyrannical ruler, and his loyal uncle Bi Gan (比干), who was executed for his honest counsel. The phrase comes from Confucius' remark that if King Zhou had even one aperture (窍, qiào) of understanding, Bi Gan would not have been killed. The characters 一 (yī) mean 'one,' 窍 (qiào) means 'aperture,' 不 (bù) means 'not,' and 通 (tōng) means 'to understand.' Today, this idiom is used to describe someone who is completely ignorant or lacks understanding in a particular area, often in a humorous or critical context.
Examples
English: "He knows nothing about the subject; he can't even understand the basics."
Chinese: 他对这个话题一窍不通。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 一窍不通 mean in English?
一窍不通 (yī qiào bù tōng) literally translates to “Not understand a single aperture” and is used to express “Completely ignorant”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 一窍不通 used?
Situation: He knows nothing about the subject; he can't even understand the basics.
What is the pinyin for 一窍不通?
The pinyin pronunciation for 一窍不通 is “yī qiào bù tōng”.