pok3 sok3 mai4 lei4撲朔迷離扑朔迷离
Jyutpingpok3 sok3 mai4 lei4
Yalepok sok màih lèih
Definition
Complicated and confusing, making it difficult to understand the truth or see the full picture.
writtendescriptionsother
How it's used
Originating from a classic Chinese poem about rabbits, this idiom describes a situation where the truth is obscured by layers of complexity. It is frequently used in news reports or casual discussions about unsolved crimes, convoluted office politics, or twisty movie plots. Unlike simpler terms for confusion, it implies that the mystery is deep and perhaps intentionally deceptive.
Examples
The whole thing is complicated and mysterious, the police are still investigating.
The plot is so confusing and mysterious, have you guessed the ending yet?
Related words
Common phrases
the case is complicated and mysterious
the plot is twisty and confusing
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple confusion or forgetfulness. It specifically requires a sense of intrigue or a puzzle that is difficult to unravel, rather than just being unsure about a basic fact.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
