不含糊 (bù hán hu) — (colloquial) unambiguous, explicit, straightforward; (colloquial) really good, impressive, outstanding

Definition

Colloquial adjective with two distinct senses: 'clear and straightforward' (说话不含糊 = no beating around the bush) and 'really good, impressive' (功夫不含糊 = top-notch skill). Both are spoken, everyday usage.

adjective
(colloquial) unambiguousexplicitstraightforward(colloquial) really goodimpressiveoutstanding

Examples

  • 不含糊，。
    Tā shuō huà xiàng lái bù hán hu, cóng bù guǎi wān mò jiǎo.
    He always speaks straightforwardly and never beats around the bush.
  • 不含糊，。
    Zhè ge cān guǎn de cài zuò dé bù hán hu, měi cì lái dōu hěn mǎn yì.
    The food at this restaurant is really good; I'm satisfied every time.
  • 不含糊，。
    Tā de gōng fu bù hán hu, zài bǐ sài zhōng qīng sōng huò shèng.
    Her kung fu skills are impressive; she won the match easily.

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 →

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kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
今
今jīn含hán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

含 is built from 口 (mouth) and 今 (jīn). The 口 part is about the mouth, while 今 gives the sound.

Open 含 →

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
胡
胡hú糊hú
Same sound today

糊 pairs 米 (rice) with 胡 (hú), which gives the sound. The 米 part relates to the meaning.

Open 糊 →

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