无缘无故(無緣無故)
无缘无故 (wú yuán wú gù) literally means “no connection no reason”and expresses “completely without reason or provocation”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: wu yuan wu gu, wu yuan wu gu,无缘无故 meaning, 无缘无故 in english
Pronunciation: wú yuán wú gù Literal meaning: No connection no reason
Origin & Usage
Buddhist concepts of karmic relationships introduced this phrase describing actions having neither connection (无缘) nor cause (无故). Tang Dynasty writers brought it beyond religious contexts into everyday use. Song Dynasty legal documents adopted it to describe actions lacking apparent motivation. The double negation - eliminating both relationship and rational bases - creates a comprehensive sense of groundlessness that remains useful in modern legal and interpersonal contexts.
When to Use
Situation: He was puzzled when the stranger suddenly approached him with accusations
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Related Chinese Idioms
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Travel a great distance
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pī gān lì dǎn
Give one's all; be completely sincere
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Prosperous people and powerful nation
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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Golden age of peace and prosperity
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Peace everywhere; universal harmony
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安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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Hard to leave one's homeland
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 无缘无故 mean in English?
无缘无故 (wú yuán wú gù) literally translates to “No connection no reason”and is used to express “Completely without reason or provocation”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theLife Philosophy category..
When is 无缘无故 used?
Situation: He was puzzled when the stranger suddenly approached him with accusations
What is the pinyin for 无缘无故?
The pinyin pronunciation for 无缘无故 is “wú yuán wú gù”.