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无可厚非 (wú kě hòu fēi) — cannot be criticized too much; it is understandable; excusable

Definition

A set phrase meaning a choice or action, while imperfect, is understandable and shouldn't be harshly criticized. Often softened with 虽然…但… to admit a flaw before conceding it's excusable.

phrase
cannot be criticized too muchit is understandableexcusable

Examples

  • 无可厚非，。
    Měi gè rén de xuǎn zé dōu wú kě hòu fēi, wǒ men yīng gāi zūn zhòng.
    Everyone's choice is understandable; we should respect it.
  • ，无可厚非。
    Tā fàn de zhǐ shì xiǎo cuò wù, wú kě hòu fēi.
    He only made a small mistake; it's excusable.
  • ，无可厚非。
    Zhè zhǒng zuò fǎ suī rán bú gòu wán měi, dàn yě wú kě hòu fēi.
    This approach, though not perfect, is still understandable.

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 →

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

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

  • 厂厂chǎngcliff; cave on a cliff
  • 𣆪𣆪𣆪jug

The shape of 厚 puts 𣆪, a jug, beneath 厂, a cliff or cave.

Open 厚 →

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

The shape of 非 is drawn from two wings facing opposite directions. It later came to be used for going against or not being.

Open 非 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Idioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.