# 不知所云

bù zhī suǒ yún

Be unintelligible or hard to follow

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Not know what is being said

**Register:** Critical · expressive

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

## When to use it

Criticize unclear writing or speech.

Can reflect the listener’s missing context too.

## Understanding the expression

The listener or reader cannot work out what the speaker is trying to communicate. The expression often criticizes disorganized language, unclear connections, or statements with no discernible point. It is harsher than saying a passage is difficult. Sometimes the missing understanding comes from omitted context rather than a fundamentally bad idea. A helpful response identifies which connection or term is unclear instead of dismissing the whole person as incapable of expressing meaning.

## Examples

这份说明让人不知所云。

### Traditional Chinese

這份說明讓人不知所云。

zhè fèn shuō míng ràng rén bù zhī suǒ yún 。

These instructions are hard to make sense of.

他讲得太乱，听众不知所云。

### Traditional Chinese

他講得太亂，聽眾不知所云。

tā jiǎng dé tài luàn ， tīng zhòng bù zhī suǒ yún 。

His explanation was so disorganized that the audience could not follow it.

删掉关键背景后，文章变得不知所云。

### Traditional Chinese

刪掉關鍵背景後，文章變得不知所云。

shān diào guān jiàn bèi jǐng hòu ， wén zhāng biàn de bù zhī suǒ yún 。

Removing the essential background made the article unintelligible.

我读了三遍，仍觉得不知所云。

### Traditional Chinese

我讀了三遍，仍覺得不知所云。

wǒ dú le sān biàn ， réng jué de bù zhī suǒ yún 。

After reading it three times, I still could not understand the point.

## 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%E7%9F%A5%E6%89%80%E4%BA%91)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=851&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [不着边际 bù zhuó biān jì Be irrelevant, unrealistic, or wide of the point ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-zhuo-bian-ji)

- [才高八斗 cái gāo bā dǒu Possess exceptional literary talent ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/cai-gao-ba-dou)

- [沧海一粟 cāng hǎi yī sù A tiny part of an immense whole ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/cang-hai-yi-su)

- [沧海遗珠 cāng hǎi yí zhū Valuable talent or work remains overlooked ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/cang-hai-yi-zhu)

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