不可言传 (bù kě yán chuán) — (idiom) cannot be expressed in words; ineffable; beyond verbal description
Definition
An idiom for what cannot be put into words — must be experienced directly. It often pairs with 只可意会 to mean 'can only be sensed, not spoken'.
idiom
cannot be expressed in wordsineffablebeyond verbal description
Examples
- ，不可言传。Zhè zhǒng gǎn shòu zhǐ kě yì huì, bù kě yán chuán.This kind of feeling can only be sensed, not expressed in words.
- 不可言传。Yì shù de měi miào zhī chù wǎng wǎng bù kě yán chuán.The beauty of art is often ineffable.
- ，不可言传，。Tā jiāo gěi wǒ de dào lǐ, yǒu xiē bù kě yán chuán, zhǐ néng zì jǐ tǐ huì.Some of the principles he taught me cannot be expressed in words — you have to experience them yourself.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.