Beyond Translations

成语

Chéng yǔ

Idioms

Idioms are phrases and expressions that have figurative meanings that differ from the literal meanings of the words. Understanding idioms is instrumental to mastering a language as it allows you to speak with more nuance and have a better understanding of the culture of the language you are learning. Mandarin consists of thousands of these 成语, and each phrase has its own story, that reveals a key element of Chinese culture. 

Beyond Translations will introduce a new idiom each week as part of our mission to create better cultural understanding. 

不可思议

Bù kě sī yì

 “unbelievable”

This phrase finds its origin from Buddhism. The initial meaning of the phrase was for  the natural mysteries of the world that cannot be explained. In modern times, it is used to describe something that is “unbelievable” or “inconceivable”. 

This idiom has a neutral meaning, which means it can be used for both positive and negative expressions. For example, if you wanted to talk about how good your friend is at playing soccer you could say, “他的技能不可思议”. But, if you wanted to talk about how unbelievable it is that your friend forgot to bring his wallet when you went to go get lunch together, you could also use 不可思议, saying “ 我们去吃午饭的时候，他忘了带钱包，真不可思议！”.