# 不见经传

bù jiàn jīng zhuàn

Little known or lacking established recognition

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Not appearing in the authoritative records

**Traditional Chinese:** 不見經傳

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Describe an obscure person, place, or claim.

Obscurity does not prove lack of merit.

## Understanding the expression

Something absent from recognized writings or records lacks an established place in familiar knowledge. Modern usage often simply means little known: an obscure author or small town may be described this way. In some contexts it also questions the authority of a claim. These meanings should be kept distinct. A new or unfamiliar name may be excellent despite its obscurity, while a factual assertion requires evidence regardless of how famous its source is.

## Examples

这位作者原本不见经传。

### Traditional Chinese

這位作者原本不見經傳。

zhè wèi zuò zhě yuán běn bù jiàn jīng zhuàn 。

This author was previously little known.

我们住进一家不见经传的小旅馆。

### Traditional Chinese

我們住進一家不見經傳的小旅館。

wǒ men zhù jìn yì jiā bù jiàn jīng zhuàn de xiǎo lǚ guǎn 。

We stayed in a small, little-known inn.

这支不见经传的队伍赢了冠军。

### Traditional Chinese

這支不見經傳的隊伍贏了冠軍。

zhè zhī bù jiàn jīng zhuàn de duì wu yíng le guàn jūn 。

This obscure team won the championship.

那种说法不见经传，证据也不足。

### Traditional Chinese

那種說法不見經傳，證據也不足。

nà zhǒng shuō fǎ bù jiàn jīng zhuàn ， zhèng jù yě bù zú 。

That claim lacks established recognition and sufficient evidence.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%B8%8D%E8%A6%8B%E7%B6%93%E5%82%B3)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=749&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [不可思议 bù kě sī yì Be astonishing or hard to comprehend ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-ke-si-yi)

- [不伦不类 bù lún bù lèi An awkward mixture that fits no coherent type ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-lun-bu-lei)

- [不毛之地 bù máo zhī dì Barren land with little or no growth ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-mao-zhi-di)

- [不求甚解 bù qiú shèn jiě Remain content with a broad or shallow understanding ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-qiu-shen-jie)

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