# 大惑不解

dà huò bù jiě

Be completely puzzled

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Greatly puzzled and unable to understand

**Register:** Descriptive · general

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

## When to use it

Describe strong confusion about an unexpected action or fact.

It expresses confusion, not proof that something is irrational.

## Understanding the expression

The expression combines a large question with the inability to resolve it. It commonly follows an event that contradicts the speaker's expectations. A strange decision, unexplained result, or missing step can leave someone deeply puzzled. The feeling reveals a gap in understanding rather than demonstrating that the event has no reasonable explanation. A useful next step is to ask for the missing information, especially when judging another person's motives or choices.

## Examples

她突然取消旅行，让我大惑不解。

### Traditional Chinese

她突然取消旅行，讓我大惑不解。

tā tū rán qǔ xiāo lǚ xíng ， ràng wǒ dà huò bù jiě 。

Her sudden cancellation deeply puzzled me.

同样操作结果不同，我大惑不解。

### Traditional Chinese

同樣操作結果不同，我大惑不解。

tóng yàng cāo zuò jié guǒ bù tóng ， wǒ dà huò bù jiě 。

Different results from the same procedure puzzled me.

他对那项收费大惑不解。

### Traditional Chinese

他對那項收費大惑不解。

tā duì nà xiàng shōu fèi dà huò bù jiě 。

He is baffled by that charge.

听完解释，我仍大惑不解。

### Traditional Chinese

聽完解釋，我仍大惑不解。

tīng wán jiě shì ， wǒ réng dà huò bù jiě 。

Even after the explanation, I remain puzzled.

## 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=%E5%A4%A7%E6%83%91%E4%B8%8D%E8%A7%A3)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=574&webMd=1&la=0)

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