rash and indiscreet; lacking sense of propriety
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
rash and indiscreet; lacking a sense of propriety or restraint; unable to gauge what's appropriate
formalA classical four-character idiom (成语) often used to criticize someone's impetuous or ill-considered actions or words in social or professional situations. It implies a failure to understand when to advance or retreat, i.e., not knowing one's place or boundaries.
Tā他
gāng刚
rù入
zhí职
jiù就
xiàng向
lǎo老
bǎn板
tí提
gè各
zhǒng种
jiàn建
yì议
,
zhēn真
shì是
yǒu有
diǎn点
bù不
zhī知
jìn进
tuì退
。
As soon as he started the job, he kept giving all sorts of suggestions to the boss, showing a real lack of propriety.
Zài在
zhǎng长
bèi辈
miàn面
qián前
rú如
cǐ此
fàng放
sì肆
,
nǐ你
zhè这
shì是
bù不
zhī知
jìn进
tuì退
。
Acting so unrestrained in front of your elders shows you don't know your place.
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Tán谈
pàn判
shí时
yào要
dǒng懂
de得
chá察
yán言
guān观
sè色
,
bù不
zhī知
jìn进
tuì退
huì会
huài坏
shì事
。
You need to know how to read the room during negotiations; being indiscreet can ruin things.