不足為外人道
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See also: 不足为外人道
Chinese[edit]
because of; for; to because of; for; to; act as; take...to be; to be; to do; to serve as; to become |
non-family member; outsider; stranger | direction; way; method direction; way; method; road; path; principle; truth; reason; skill; Tao (of Taoism); a measure word; to say; to speak; to talk | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
trad. (不足為外人道/不足爲外人道) | 不足 | 為/爲 | 外人 | 道 | |
simp. (不足为外人道) | 不足 | 为 | 外人 | 道 |
Etymology[edit]
- 停數日,辭去。此中人語云:「不足為外人道也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: The Peach Blossom Spring (桃花源記), by Tao Yuanming, 421 (Wiktionary translation)
- Tíng shùrì, cíqù. Cǐ zhōng rén yǔ yún: “Bùzú wèi wàirén dào yě.” [Pinyin]
- He stayed on for a few more days before taking his leave. As he was departing, some of them said to him, "No need to tell outsiders about us."
停数日,辞去。此中人语云:「不足为外人道也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation[edit]
Idiom[edit]
不足為外人道
- not fit to be told to others; no need to tell others; this is not to be mentioned to outsiders; this is strictly between ourselves
References[edit]
- Tao, Yuanming (421) The Peach Blossom Spring (桃花源記)