一問三不知

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word 一問三不知. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word 一問三不知, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say 一問三不知 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word 一問三不知 you have here. The definition of the word 一問三不知 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of一問三不知, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

Chinese

one; single; a
one; single; a; (before verbs) as soon as, once; (before a noun) entire (family, etc.)
 
 to ask three
to not know; to have no idea of; to be ignorant of
to not know; to have no idea of; to be ignorant of; to wonder if
 
trad. (一問三不知) 一 問 三 不知
simp. (一问三不知) 一 问 三 不知
Literally: “to reply ‘don't know’ whatever the question”.

Etymology

From Zuo Zhuan:

君子之謀也，始衷終皆舉之而後入焉。今我是三不知而入之，不亦難乎？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
君子之谋也，始衷终皆举之而后入焉。今我是三不知而入之，不亦难乎？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4th century BCE
Jūnzǐ zhī móu yě, shǐ zhōng zhōng jiē jǔ zhī ér hòu rù yān. Jīn wǒ shì sān bùzhī ér rù zhī, bù yì nán hū?
A superior man, in forming his plans, considers everything ― the beginning, the middle and the end ― and then he enters on his course. But now I took mine, without knowing any one of these three; is it not hard?

Pronunciation

Idiom

一問三不知

  1. to answer “no idea” to every question; to have absolutely no idea of what is going on, or pretend to be unaware; completely ignorant
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia