体无完肤 (tǐ wú wán fū) — beaten black and blue, covered with bruises; th…

Definition

A vivid chengyu meaning 'body without a single patch of uninjured skin' — used literally for severe bruising, or figuratively for arguments or criticism torn to shreds.

idiom

beaten black and bluecovered with bruisesthoroughly refuted or scathingly criticized

Examples

，。
Tā bèi dǎ dé tǐ wú wán fū, hún shēn shì shāng.
He was beaten black and blue, covered with injuries.
，。
Tā de guān diǎn bèi fǎn bó dé tǐ wú wán fū, wú huà kě shuō.
Her viewpoint was thoroughly refuted, leaving her speechless.
。
Nà piān wén zhāng bǎ zuò zhě pī píng dé tǐ wú wán fū.
That article criticized the author mercilessly.

Origin

Characters in this word

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 體; 体 is its simplified writing.

骨豊體

Meaning part形符xíngfú

骨骨gǔbone

Sound part声符shēngfú

豊

豊lǐ體tǐ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 體 pairs 骨 (bone) with 豊 as a sound part; this note is about 體, not about the parts of 体.

Open 体 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 無; 无 is its simplified writing.

For the simplified 无, the story is about 無. 無 drew a person dancing with ox tails held in both hands to pray for rain, then was borrowed for 'have no', so the picture does not explain that meaning.

Open 无 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

宀元完

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

元

元yuán完wán

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

完 pairs 宀 (roof) with 元, which gives the sound.

Open 完 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.