bat1 dak1 ji4 zi1不得而知
Jyutpingbat1 dak1 ji4 zi1
Yalebāt dāk yìh jī
Definition
Unable to find out; unknown, with no way of knowing.
writtencommunication
How it's used
This is a formal idiom that carries a sense of finality, often used when a piece of information is permanently lost or inaccessible. It is frequently placed at the end of a sentence to emphasize that the mystery remains unsolved. Despite its formal nature, it is commonly used in news reports and serious discussions to convey that a fact is beyond reach.
Examples
We have no idea why he suddenly resigned.
Who actually knows the truth about this matter?
Related words
Common phrases
the truth remains unknown
the reason is unknown
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple way to say I do not know, but it is much more formal and usually implies that nobody knows, rather than just the speaker being uninformed.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
