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不得而知

bù dé ér zhī

HSK 7–9

Meaning

  • unknown
  • unable to find out

Definition

无法知道；不能了解。

cannot be known; unable to find out.

Usage

通常用于表示对某事的结果、原因或真相不清楚，无法得知。

Usually used to express that the result, reason, or truth of something is unclear and cannot be known.

Examples

  • 1 事情的真相如何，我们不得而知。 (We have no way of knowing the truth of the matter.)
  • 2 他为什么辞职，大家不得而知。 (No one knows why he resigned.)
  • 3 那场事故的原因至今不得而知。 (The cause of that accident remains unknown.)
  • 4 未来会发生什么，谁都不不得而知。 (No one can know what will happen in the future.)
  • 5 他的下落至今不得而知。 (His whereabouts are still unknown.)

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