completely ignorant; know nothing
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to know nothing about; to be completely ignorant of; to be clueless
Originally from the metaphor of having no opening (窍) in the heart/mind for understanding to enter. Used to describe complete lack of knowledge or understanding in a particular field or subject.
Wǒ我
duì对
yīn音
yuè乐
yī一
qiào窍
bù不
tōng通
。
I know absolutely nothing about music.
Tā他
duì对
diàn电
nǎo脑
jì技
shù术
yī一
qiào窍
bù不
tōng通
，
lián连
kāi开
jī机
dōu都
bù不
huì会
。
He is completely clueless about computer technology; he doesn't even know how to turn one on.
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Bié别
kàn看
tā他
shì是
bó博
shì士
，
duì对
rén人
qíng情
shì世
gù故
què却
yī一
qiào窍
bù不
tōng通
。
Despite being a PhD, he knows nothing about the ways of the world.
Zài在
zhè这
gè个
wèn问
tí题
shang上
，
wǒ我
yī一
qiào窍
bù不
tōng通
，
nǐ你
hái还
shì是
wèn问
bié别
rén人
ba吧
。
I am completely ignorant about this matter; you'd better ask someone else.