nothing definite yet; still up in the air
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
nothing has been done yet; no concrete progress; not even the first step
informalLiterally 'the character 八 (eight) doesn't have its first stroke yet,' referring to the first left-falling stroke (撇) of the character. Used to describe plans, projects, or situations that are still in a very preliminary, uncertain stage, often with no guarantee they will happen.
Tā他
men们
de的
hé合
zuò作
jì计
huà划
bā八
zì字
méi没
yī一
piě撇
ne呢
，
bié别
xiǎng想
de得
tài太
zǎo早
le了
。
Their cooperation plan is still up in the air, don't think too far ahead.
Fáng房
zi子
shén什
me么
shí时
hou候
mǎi买
？
Mù目
qián前
hái还
shì是
bā八
zì字
méi没
yī一
piě撇
de的
shì事
。
When will you buy the house? At the moment, it's still just a vague idea.
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Tā他
zǒng总
shuō说
yào要
chuàng创
yè业
，
kě可
zī资
jīn金
hé和
tuán团
duì队
dōu都
bā八
zì字
méi没
yī一
piě撇
。
He always talks about starting a business, but funding and a team are nowhere in sight.