# 不可思议

bù kě sī yì

Be astonishing or hard to comprehend

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Cannot be conceived or discussed fully

**Traditional Chinese:** 不可思議

**Register:** Standard · expressive

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

## When to use it

Express amazement at an unexpected fact or experience.

Usually emotional, not literal impossibility.

## Understanding the expression

The experience seems beyond what the observer could have imagined. Modern usage expresses wonder at extraordinary skill, coincidence, beauty, or a surprising result. It may also signal disbelief at something unreasonable. The phrase does not necessarily deny that the event occurred; often it emphasizes how remarkable its occurrence feels. A concrete detail gives that amazement substance, showing what exceeded expectations instead of relying only on a general exclamation.

## Examples

他闭眼也能弹完整首曲子，真不可思议。

### Traditional Chinese

他閉眼也能彈完整首曲子，真不可思議。

tā bì yǎn yě néng tán wán zhěng shǒu qǔ zi ， zhēn bù kě sī yì 。

His ability to play the entire piece with his eyes closed is astonishing.

两人竟在异国重逢，太不可思议了。

### Traditional Chinese

兩人竟在異國重逢，太不可思議了。

liǎng rén jìng zài yì guó chóng féng ， tài bù kě sī yì liǎo 。

Their reunion abroad was an extraordinary coincidence.

这座桥的结构令人不可思议。

### Traditional Chinese

這座橋的結構令人不可思議。

zhè zuò qiáo de jié gòu lìng rén bù kě sī yì 。

The structure of this bridge is astonishing.

没有训练就夺冠，实在不可思议。

### Traditional Chinese

沒有訓練就奪冠，實在不可思議。

méi yǒu xùn liàn jiù duó guàn ， shí zài bù kě sī yì 。

Winning without training is truly hard to believe.

## 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%E5%8F%AF%E6%80%9D%E8%AD%B0)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=967&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [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)

- [不胜枚举 bù shèng méi jǔ Too numerous to list individually ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-sheng-mei-ju)

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