不可思议

• Pinyin: bù kě sī yì
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 = not; 可 = can; 思 = to think; 议 = 讠(speech) + 义 (meaning), meaning to discuss or consider

Meaning

Incredible; inconceivable; unimaginable. Something so extraordinary it defies understanding.

Originally a Buddhist term for things beyond conceptual thought. Now commonly used to express amazement at remarkable events, abilities, or coincidences. Can be positive (amazing talent) or negative (shockingly bad). Very common in everyday speech.

Examples

1. 他的记忆力简直不可思议，看过一遍就能全部背下来。 His memory is simply incredible — he can memorize everything after seeing it just once.
2. 这个巧合太不可思议了，我们居然在异国他乡偶遇。 This coincidence is too unbelievable — we actually ran into each other in a foreign country.
3. 不可思议的是，这家公司居然在三年内从零做到了上市。 What's incredible is that this company went from zero to IPO in just three years.

Usage Guide

Context: amazement, disbelief, extraordinary

Tone: astonished

Do Say

• 这简直不可思议！(This is simply incredible!)
• 他的成就令人不可思议。(His achievements are inconceivable.)

Don't Say

• 这道菜不可思议地难吃。(While grammatically possible, it sounds odd — use 难以置信地 for negative extremes)

Origin & History

From Buddhist terminology, originally meaning truths that cannot be grasped by ordinary thinking. 思 means to think, 议 means to discuss — together describing something beyond conceptual comprehension.

Cultural Context

Era: Buddhist origin

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal