不容置疑 (bù róng zhì yí) — unquestionable; indisputable; beyond doubt

Definition

Strong, formal idiom meaning 'beyond doubt' or 'indisputable' — used in writing or firm statements to emphasize something cannot be questioned. Stronger than plain 无疑 (doubtless).

idiom
unquestionableindisputablebeyond doubt

Examples

  • 不容置疑。
    Zhè shì yí gè bù róng zhì yí de shì shí.
    This is an indisputable fact.
  • ,不容置疑。
    Zhèng jù què záo, bù róng zhì yí.
    The evidence is conclusive and admits no doubt.
  • 不容置疑,。
    Tā de néng lì bù róng zhì yí, dà jiā dōu rèn kě.
    His ability is unquestionable; everyone acknowledges it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

不容not allow
偏正Modifier + head
置疑raise doubt
置zhìplace疑yídoubt
动宾Verb + object

“不” (not) with “容” (allow) gives “不容”, and “置” (place) with “疑” (doubt) gives “置疑”; no room for “置疑”.

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
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
公
公gōng容róng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 容, the 宀 (roof) part points to holding or containing, and 公 gives the sound.

Open 容 →

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
罒Written in full as网wǎng
Sound part声符shēngfú
直
直zhí置zhì
Same sound today

置 is built from 罒, a net, on top and 直 below; 直 gives the sound.

Open 置 →

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

  • 大大dàstanding human figure
  • 夂夂zhǐtilted head with open mouth
  • 丨丨gǔncane

疑 depicts a standing figure 大 with a tilted, open-mouthed head 夂 and a cane 丨, a confused person looking around for direction.

Open 疑 →

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