无以 (wú yǐ) — (formal adverb) there is no way to; cannot (used in fixed expressions)

Definition

Classical/literary 'there is no way to' — used in fixed expressions like 无以复加 and 无以名状, not in everyday speech. The example shows the form 无以 + Verb.

adverb
(formal adverb) there is no way tocannot (used in fixed expressions)

Examples

  • 。
    Tā de chéng jiù yǐ jīng dá dào wú yǐ fù jiā de dì bù.
    His achievements have reached an extreme beyond compare.
  • ，无以。
    Zhè jǐng sè zhī měi, jiǎn zhí lìng rén wú yǐ míng zhuàng.
    The beauty of this scenery is simply indescribable.
  • ，无以。
    Miàn duì tā de pī píng, wǒ wú yǐ zì róng.
    Faced with his criticism, I was deeply ashamed.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 無; 无 is its simplified writing.

For the simplified 无, the story is about 無. 無 drew a person dancing with ox tails held in both hands to pray for rain, then was borrowed for 'have no', so the picture does not explain that meaning.

Open 无 →

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

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

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