成语 Quiz
Challenge yourself during this holiday with this 成语 quiz.
It's almost like Scrabble: What are the possible 成语 whose first and third words are both "不"?
There are at least 18 possible answers which we may come across in our daily lives.
When I tested this out with my friends, most couldn't get more than 10.
Give it a shot. Tag your friends to challenge them too.
Scroll down for my list of 18
(disclaimer: there are many many more than the suggested 18 but these are the commonly used ones. You can search online for 成语 databases to generate a definitive list of answers but that's not the learning purpose of this blog.)
1. 不屈不挠 bù qū bù náo
Meaning: indomitable or unyielding
2. 不眠不休 bù mián bù xiū
Meaning: to work without stopping to sleep or rest
This is used to describe a tireless effort, not your last-minute cram sessions before exams.
3. 不伦不类 bù lún bù lèi
Meaning: neither one thing nor the other (unable to be appropriately categorised)
In Singlish, not here not there la
4. 不三不四 bù sān bù sì
Meaning: dubious or shady
5. 不干不净 bù gān bù jìng
Meaning: unclean or foul-mouthed
6. 不清不楚 bù qīng bù chǔ
Meaning: unclear
Which describes some work emails that are worded in vague generic terms and nobody knows what's going on
7. 不慌不忙 bù huāng bù máng
Meaning: unhurried and composed
Opposite of gancheong spider
8. 不偏不倚 bù piān bù yǐ
Meaning: unbiased or without deviation
9. 不折不扣 bù zhé bù kòu
Meaning: to the letter / out-and-out
折扣 means "discount". In other words, 不折不扣 means no discount, no give chance.
10. 不理不睬 bù lǐ bù cǎi
Meaning: to completely ignore
Bo chap. Mai chap.
11. 不闻不问 bù wén bù wèn
Meaning: to show no interest / not in the least concerned
Again, bo chap & mai chap.
12. 不言不语 bù yán bù yǔ
Meaning: to not say a word
13. 不知不觉 bù zhī bù jué
Meaning: unconsciously or unwittingly
14. 不声不响 bù shēng bù xiǎng
Meaning: silently
15. 不吐不快 bù tǔ bù kuài
Meaning: to have to say out what is on one's mind
In this context, 快 refers to happiness. A loose translation will be "no say, no happy".
16. 不痛不痒 bù tòng bù yǎng
Meaning: perfunctory and not getting to the heart of the matter
17. 不情不愿 bù qíng bù yuàn
Meaning: reluctantly
Just like how you feel when your boss arrow you to come back on a weekend to help out with Dept event.
18. 不仁不义 bù rén bù yì
Meaning: heartless and unjust