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不为人知 (bù wéi rén zhī) — unknown to anyone; not known to the public

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'unknown to the public / not known by anyone' — a written, somewhat literary way to say something is secret or hidden, stronger than simply 没人知道 in everyday speech.

verb
unknown to anyonenot known to the public

Examples

  • 不为人知。
    Zhè ge mì mì yì zhí bù wéi rén zhī.
    This secret has always been unknown to anyone.
  • 不为人知。
    Tā yǒu yí gè bù wéi rén zhī de shēn fèn.
    He has an identity unknown to anyone.
  • 不为人知。
    Nà duàn lì shǐ zhì jīn bù wéi rén zhī.
    That period of history remains unknown to the public to this day.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

An early form of 知 showed 大 (adult), 口 (mouth), and 子 (child): an adult speaking to a child to pass on knowledge. The 子 part was dropped, and the 大 part changed shape.

Open 知 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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