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无关痛痒 (wú guān tòng yǎng) — (of a matter) insignificant, of no consequence; (of a person) unconcerned, indifferent

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning something is trivial or that someone doesn't care — 'it doesn't touch the sore spot, it doesn't itch.' Often used to dismiss matters as unimportant or describe indifference.

idiom
(of a matter) insignificantof no consequence(of a person) unconcernedindifferent

Examples

  • 无关痛痒，。
    Zhè xiē suǒ shì dōu wú guān tòng yǎng, bié làng fèi shí jiān le.
    These trivial matters are of no consequence; don't waste time on them.
  • 无关痛痒，。
    Tā duì gōng sī de fā zhǎn wán quán wú guān tòng yǎng, zhǐ gù zì jǐ zhuàn qián.
    He is completely unconcerned about the company's development, only caring about making money for himself.
  • 无关痛痒，。
    Huì shàng tǎo lùn de wèn tí bìng fēi wú guān tòng yǎng, ér shì jué dìng wèi lái fāng xiàng de guān jiàn.
    The issues discussed at the meeting are by no means insignificant; they are key to deciding the future direction.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

无关not concern
无wúnot关guānconcern
偏正Modifier + head
痛痒pain and itch
痛tòngpain痒yǎngitch
联合Coordinate

无 means not, 关 means concern, and 痛痒 means pain and itch; together they say something does not concern pain or itch, so it is insignificant.

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 關; 关 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門méndoor
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢇅
𢇅𢇅關guān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 关, the traditional form 關 shows 門 as a door and 𢇅 as two wooden sticks locking it, with ring-like marks on top.

Open 关 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
疒疒nèillness
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng痛tòng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 疒 part means illness, and 甬 gives the sound; together they form 痛, meaning pain or hurt.

Open 痛 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
疒疒nèillness
Sound part声符shēngfú
羊
羊yáng痒yǎng
Same sound today

痒 is built from 疒, showing illness, and 羊, which gives its sound.

Open 痒 →
Appears in
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