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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"?

成语 quiz (Scrabble style)

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

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