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不以为然 (bù yǐ wéi rán) — (idiom) to object; to disapprove; to take exception to

Definition

A fixed phrase meaning 'to disagree or disapprove,' usually of someone's opinion or suggestion. It focuses on the speaker's attitude, not on a physical 'object.'

idiom
to objectto disapproveto take exception to

Examples

  • 不以为然，。
    Dà jiā duì tā de jiàn yì dōu bù yǐ wéi rán, rèn wéi bù kě xíng.
    Everyone objected to his suggestion and thought it wasn't feasible.
  • 不以为然，。
    Tā bù yǐ wéi rán dì kàn le wǒ yì yǎn, shén me yě méi shuō.
    He gave me a disapproving look and said nothing.
  • ，不以为然。
    Duì yú zhè zhǒng shuō fǎ, wǒ bù yǐ wéi rán.
    With regard to this kind of statement, I disagree.

Origin

Characters in this word

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 →

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Attitudes & OpinionsIdioms & Set Phrases

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