Definition
下落不明 is a fixed four-character expression meaning one's whereabouts are completely unknown. It is commonly used in news reports or official statements about missing persons, lost property, or vanished objects. Unlike a simple adjective like 'missing', this phrase carries a formal, almost journalistic tone and implies that even basic location information is unavailable.
f.e.
(fixed expression) whereabouts unknownmissing (formal or journalistic style)
Examples
- 下落不明。Jǐngchá hái zài xúnzhǎo nà ge xià luò bù míng de háizi.The police are still looking for that missing child.
- 下落不明，。Nà jià fēijī xià luò bù míng, dàjiā dōu hěn dānxīn.That plane is missing; everyone is very worried.
- 下落不明，。Tā de xíngli xià luò bù míng, yǐjīng xiàng jīchǎng bàogào le.His luggage is missing; he already reported it to the airport.
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