来历不明 (lái lì bù míng) — of unknown origin; with an unverifiable background

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'of unknown origin / unverifiable background', used attributively before a noun (来历不明的人, 来历不明的资金). Neutral, formal register — fits police, news, and historical/evidential contexts.

verb
of unknown originwith an unverifiable background

Examples

  • 来历不明，。
    Zhè ge lái lì bù míng de rén tū rán chū xiàn zài cūn lǐ, dà jiā dōu hěn jǐng tì.
    This person of unknown origin suddenly appeared in the village, and everyone was very cautious.
  • 来历不明。
    Jǐng fāng zhèng zài diào chá nà bǐ lái lì bù míng de zī jīn.
    The police are investigating that sum of money of unknown origin.
  • 来历不明。
    Zhè xiē lái lì bù míng de gǔ dǒng hěn kě néng shì yàn pǐn.
    These antiques of unknown origin are likely fakes.

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 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →

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 歷; 历 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 历 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (简历, 经历) it is 歷; in others (日历) it is 曆.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
厤
厤lì歷lì
Same sound today

The form 歷 pairs 止 with the sound part 厤.

Open 历 →

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

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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

明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), showing the sun just rising while the moon has not yet set, or two bright objects in the sky, to express brightness.

Open 明 →

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