不致于 (bú zhì yú) — (fixed phrase) not to the extent of; not so much that; unlikely to reach a certain degree

Definition

Phrase meaning 'not so much that / unlikely to reach the point of' — used to downplay a result. Common pattern: 还不致于…, 'not to the extent of…' / 'not yet at the point of…'.

verb
(fixed phrase) not to the extent ofnot so much thatunlikely to reach a certain degree

Examples

  • ，不致于。
    Zhè diǎn xiǎo shì, bú zhì yú fā zhè me dà de huǒ.
    It's such a small matter; there's no need to get so angry.
  • ，不致于。
    Tā píng shí hěn jié jiǎn, bú zhì yú huā zhè me duō qián mǎi shē chǐ pǐn.
    He's usually very frugal; he wouldn't spend so much money on luxury goods.
  • ，不致于。
    Jiù suàn shū le bǐ sài, yě bú zhì yú tài nán guò.
    Even if we lose the match, it's not worth being too upset.

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.

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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
攵Written in full as攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
至
至zhì致zhì
Same sound today

致 pairs 至, used for its sound, with 攵, written in full as 攴.

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

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

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