Definition
不得要领 is a four-character idiom that means 'to fail to grasp the key point' or 'to miss the main idea.' It's used when someone's understanding or explanation is off-target — they focus on details but miss the core issue. The phrase comes from ancient Chinese historiography (literally 'not get the collar/waist,' referring to the key parts of a garment). You'll encounter it in formal or written contexts, such as discussions, reports, or critiques.
v.p.
to fail to grasp the main pointto miss the key idea
Examples
- ，不得要领。Tā jiǎng le bàntiān, wǒ háishì bù dé yào lǐng.He talked for a long time, but I still missed the main point.
- 不得要领，。Zhè piān bàogào xiě de bù dé yào lǐng, zhòngdiǎn bù tūchū.This report fails to grasp the main point — the key issues aren't highlighted.
- 不得要领，。Nǐ wèn de wèntí bù dé yào lǐng, ràng wǒ hěn nán huídá.The question you asked misses the main point, making it hard for me to answer.
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