Definition
道不明 is a verb meaning 'cannot be explained clearly' or 'is hard to articulate'. It is often used in the pattern 说不清，道不明 (cannot be said clearly, cannot be explained clearly), emphasizing that something is too complex, vague, or subtle to put into words. The 道 here is a literary verb meaning 'to say' or 'to speak', and 不明 means 'not clear'. You'll encounter it in written or formal speech, especially when describing emotions, reasons, or abstract concepts.
v
cannot be explained clearlyhard to articulate
Examples
- ，道不明。Zhè jiàn shì shuō bù qīng, dào bú.This matter cannot be said clearly or explained clearly.
- ，。Tā xīn lǐ de gǎnshòu, biérén hěn nán dào bú.The feelings in his heart are hard for others to articulate.
- ，道不明。Qízhōng de yuányīn, shéi yě dào bú.No one can clearly explain the reasons behind it.
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