have nothing to say; be at a loss for words
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
be at a loss for words; have nothing to say (because one's argument is refuted)
informalUsed in situations where someone is unable to come up with a response after being proven wrong or challenged. The '儿' (ér) suffix is typical of Northern Mandarin colloquial speech.
Zài在
dà大
jiā家
de的
fǎn反
bó驳
xià下
，
tā他
méi没
cí词
r儿
le了
。
After everyone refuted him, he was at a complete loss for words.
Bèi被
wèn问
dào到
guān关
jiàn键
wèn问
tí题
shí时
，
tā他
dùn顿
shí时
méi没
cí词
r儿
le了
。
When asked the crucial question, he immediately had nothing to say.
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Bié别
kàn看
tā他
píng平
shí时
néng能
shuō说
huì会
dào道
，
yī一
jiǎng讲
dào道
lǐ理
tā他
jiù就
méi没
cí词
r儿
。
Don't be fooled by his usual eloquence; when it comes to reasoning, he's speechless.