不得而知 (bù dé ér zhī) — unable to find out; unknown; nobody knows
Definition
Set phrase meaning 'cannot be found out' or 'nobody knows' — used when the truth of something is unknowable from the speaker's position. 未知数 emphasizes a quantifiable or predictable unknown; 不得而知 stresses that no one can determine the answer.
phrase
unable to find outunknownnobody knows
Examples
- 不得而知。Zhè jiàn shì de zhēn xiàng zhì jīn bù dé ér zhī.The truth of this matter is still unknown.
- ，不得而知。Tā wèi shén me tū rán lí kāi, wǒ men bù dé ér zhī.Why he suddenly left, we have no way of knowing.
- ，不得而知。Nà ge wèn tí de dá àn, kǒng pà bù dé ér zhī le.The answer to that question is probably unknowable.
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