每天成语
background texture
< 日新月异张灯结彩 >

不为人知

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: bù wéi rén zhī
  • English Translation: Unknown to the public (hidden or obscure)
  • Idiom Composition: 「不」（Not (negation)）＋「为」（By (a classical passive marker, pronounced wéi in this context)）＋「人」（People or the general public）＋「知」（To know or to be known）
  • Meaning: A state of being unknown to the general public. It refers to things that are kept secret or are simply obscure because they haven't received attention. Depending on the context, it can imply a 'hidden truth' or a neutral 'low level of recognition.'

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「不为人知」 contains the following nuances:

  • Understanding the Passive Structure: The characters 为 (wéi) and 所 (suǒ) are often used in classical Chinese to form passive sentences. In this idiom, 不为人知 (bù wéi rén zhī) literally translates to 'not by people known,' which functions the same as the modern passive marker 被 (bèi).
  • The Duality of Secret vs. Obscure: This idiom is versatile; it can describe a 'secret' that is intentionally hidden or something 'obscure' that is simply not famous or recognized yet.
  • Grammatical Function: It is most commonly used as an adjective (attributive) to modify a noun, such as in the phrase 不为人知的一面 (bù wéi rén zhī de yī miàn), meaning 'a side that is unknown to others.'

3. Usage

「不为人知」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Hidden aspects or secrets: Used to describe facts behind a person's character, past, or an event that have not been revealed. It often carries a serious or dramatic tone.
    • Example:「这位明星背后有着一段不为人知的辛酸经历。」
      （Behind this star's fame lies a hidden and bitter past.）
  • Obscure or minor entities: Refers to places, works, or people that remain unknown to the world despite having value.
    • Example:「这座深山里藏着一座不为人知的古老寺庙。」
      （Hidden deep within these mountains is an obscure ancient temple.）
  • Quiet dedication: Used to describe efforts or sacrifices that go unnoticed by others, often carrying a nuance of praise or sympathy.
    • Example:「为了这个项目的成功，他付出了许多不为人知的努力。」
      （For the success of this project, he put in a great deal of unnoticed effort.）

Additional Examples:

  1. 这件事虽然已经过去很久，但真相依然不为人知。
    （Although much time has passed, the truth remains unknown.）
  2. 他喜欢去那些不为人知的小众景点旅游。
    （He likes traveling to those lesser-known, off-the-beaten-path attractions.）
  3. 每个人的内心深处都有一些不为人知的秘密。
    （Deep in everyone's heart, there are some private secrets.）
  4. 这种罕见的疾病在当时还鲜为人知。
    （This rare disease was hardly known to anyone at that time.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Grammatical Background: The use of 为 (wéi) as a passive marker is a remnant of Classical Chinese. While not common in casual modern speech, it is preserved in many formal idioms.
  • Usage Frequency: This is a high-register term. In daily conversation, people usually say 没人知道 (méi rén zhī dào). Using 不为人知 (bù wéi rén zhī) suggests a more literary or storytelling context.
  • Nuance: The idiom often implies that the subject has a story worth knowing or a value that has been overlooked, adding a layer of narrative depth to the description.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

不为人知 (bù wéi rén zhī) is an idiom used to describe things that are hidden from public view, whether they are secrets, untold truths, or simply obscure facts. It uses a passive grammatical structure where 不为 (bù wéi) means 'not by' and 人知 (rén zhī) means 'known by people.' While casual speech might use 没人知道 (méi rén zhī dào) to say 'nobody knows,' this idiom is preferred in literature and formal writing to add emotional depth or a sense of mystery.

'造句' Feature Usage Guide

造句练习📝

Try creating sentences using '不为人知'!

0/50

每天成语 | 不为人知