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不折不扣

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

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: bù zhé bù kòu
  • English Translation: Without discount (100% / out-and-out)
  • Idiom Composition: 「不」（Not or no (negation).）＋「折」（To fold or to discount, as seen in the term 打折 (dǎ zhé).）＋「不」（Not or no (negation).）＋「扣」（To deduct or to discount, as seen in the term 折扣 (zhé kòu).）
  • Meaning: Literally meaning 'no discount and no deduction.' Figuratively, it describes something that is 100% complete, thorough, or genuine without any compromise or deviation. It is used to emphasize that a situation or quality is exactly as described, whether in a positive or negative sense.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「不折不扣」 contains the following nuances:

  • Completeness and Thoroughness: The phrase refers to a state where there is no compromise or deficiency. It is often used when emphasizing the strict execution of a command or when a certain quality (like foolishness or villainy) is at its peak.
  • Emphatic Function: Placed before a noun (as an attributive) or a verb (as an adverbial), it strengthens the meaning of the following word, acting much like the English words 'pure,' 'absolute,' or 'thoroughly.'

3. Usage

「不折不扣」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Execution of Orders or Tasks: Commonly used in formal or business contexts to demand that instructions or plans be carried out 'to the letter' without any shortcuts or changes.
    • Example:「各部门必须不折不扣地执行公司的决议。」
      （Each department must execute the company's resolution to the letter.)
  • Negative Evaluation of Character: Used to emphasize a negative trait, suggesting someone is a 'complete' or 'pure' example of a negative archetype.
    • Example:「他刚才的行为简直是个不折不扣的懦夫。」
      （His behavior just now was that of an out-and-out coward.)
  • Emphasizing Facts or Success: Used to highlight an undeniable state, such as a 'genuine' victory or an 'absolute' truth.
    • Example:「这是一场不折不扣的胜利。」
      （This is an absolute victory.)

Additional Examples:

  1. 我们要不折不扣地落实这项政策。
    （We must implement this policy to the letter.）
  2. 他是个不折不扣的工作狂。
    （He is a genuine workaholic.）
  3. 这完全是不折不扣的谎言！
    （This is an out-and-out lie!）
  4. 那次经历对我来说是不折不扣的灾难。
    （That experience was an absolute disaster for me.）
  5. 她是一位不折不扣的女强人。
    （She is a genuine 'iron lady'.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Derived from Commercial Language: Originally, 不折不扣 (bù zhé bù kòu) was a trade term meaning 'no discount' or 'fixed price.' Over time, it evolved to mean 'without exaggeration' or 'complete.'
  • Wide Range of Use: The idiom is highly versatile, appearing in everything from formal political slogans (regarding the strict implementation of policy) to casual daily insults like calling someone an 不折不扣的笨蛋 (bù zhé bù kòu de bèn dàn) or an 'out-and-out fool.'
  • Nuance: While some dictionaries suggest it is often paired with derogatory terms, in modern usage, it is frequently used in neutral or positive contexts, especially regarding the disciplined fulfillment of duties.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

The idiom 不折不扣 (bù zhé bù kòu) functions as an intensifier meaning 'to the letter' or 'genuine.' It can modify verbs, such as in 不折不扣地执行 (bù zhé bù kòu de zhí xíng) meaning 'to execute thoroughly,' or nouns, such as in 不折不扣的... (bù zhé bù kòu de...) meaning 'a true/complete...' It is a versatile phrase used to stress that there is no exaggeration or reduction in the statement being made.

Idiom Essay

bù zhé bù kòu
不折不扣
One Hundred Percent
wǒ men我们zài在mǎi dōng xī买东西de的shí hòu时候，tōng cháng通常dōu都hěn很xǐ huān喜欢tīng dào听到“dǎ zhé打折”zhè这liǎng gè两个zì字。

When we go shopping, we usually love to hear the word "discount."

yīn wèi因为zhè这yì wèi zhe意味着wǒ men我们kě yǐ可以fù chū付出shǎo少yì diǎn一点de的dài jià代价，dé dào得到xiǎng yào想要de的dōng xī东西。

Because it means we can pay a little less to get what we want.

dàn但zài在shēng huó生活zhōng中，yǒu xiē有些dōng xī东西，yí dàn一旦dǎ打le了zhé kòu折扣，tā它de的yì yì意义jiù就wán quán完全biàn变le了。

But in life, there are some things that completely change in meaning once they are discounted.

zhōng wén中文lǐ里yǒu有yí gè一个chéng yǔ成语，zhuān mén专门yòng lái用来xíng róng形容nà xiē那些“wán quán完全méi yǒu没有jiǎn shǎo减少、bǎo liú保留le了quán bù全部yuán mào原貌”de的shì wù事物，jiào zuò叫做“bù zhé bù kòu不折不扣”。

In Chinese, there is an idiom specifically used to describe things that are "not reduced at all and retain their full original form," called 不折不扣.

cóng从zì miàn字面shàng上kàn看，“zhé折”hé和“kòu扣”，dōu都shì是shāng yè商业shù yǔ术语，zhǐ指de的jiù shì就是jiǎn jià减价、dǎ zhé打折。

Literally, 折 and 扣 are both commercial terms referring to price reductions or discounts.

suǒ yǐ所以，“bù zhé bù kòu不折不扣”zuì最yuán shǐ原始de的yì si意思hěn很jiǎn dān简单，jiù shì就是àn按yuán jià原价mài卖，yī fēn qián一分钱yě也bù shǎo不少。

Therefore, the original meaning of 不折不扣 was simple: selling at the original price without a single penny's reduction.

hòu lái后来，zhè ge这个cí词màn màn慢慢zǒu chū走出shāng diàn商店，zǒu jìn走进wǒ men我们de的xìng gé性格hé和shēng huó生活lǐ里。

Later, this term gradually moved out of the shops and into our character and lives.

dāng当tā它yòng lái用来xíng róng形容yī jiàn一件shì qíng事情huò zhě或者yí gè一个rén人de的shí hòu时候，tā它qiáng diào强调de的shì是yī zhǒng一种“chún dù纯度”hé和“chè dǐ彻底”。

When used to describe a matter or a person, it emphasizes a kind of "purity" and "thoroughness."

xiǎng xiàng想象yī xià一下，rú guǒ如果yí gè一个rén人dā yìng答应bāng帮nǐ你zuò做yī jiàn一件shì事，dàn但tā他zhǐ只zuò做le了yí bàn一半，huò zhě或者zuò做dé得mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ马马虎虎，wǒ men我们huì会jué de觉得tā他zài在fū yǎn敷衍。

Imagine if someone promises to do something for you but only does half of it or does it sloppily; we would feel they are being perfunctory.

dàn但rú guǒ如果tā他bǎ把měi每yí gè一个xì jié细节dōu都luò shí落实le了，wán quán完全dá dào达到le了chéng nuò承诺de的biāo zhǔn标准，wǒ men我们jiù就kě yǐ可以shuō说：tā他“bù zhé bù kòu不折不扣”dì地wán chéng完成le了rèn wù任务。

But if they carry out every detail and fully meet the promised standard, we can say they completed the task 不折不扣.

zhè ge这个chéng yǔ成语hěn很yǒu有lì liàng力量，yīn wèi因为tā它jù jué拒绝le了suǒ yǒu所有de的“chà bu duō差不多”，zhǐ只jiē shòu接受“bǎi fēn zhī bǎi百分之百”。

This idiom is powerful because it rejects all "good enoughs" and only accepts "one hundred percent."

tā它kě yǐ可以shì是hǎo好de的。

It can be positive.

bǐ rú比如，nǐ你kě yǐ可以shuō说mǒu某gè个rén人shì是yí gè一个“bù zhé bù kòu不折不扣de的lǐ xiǎng zhǔ yì理想主义zhě者”。

For example, you can say someone is a 不折不扣的理想主义者.

yì si意思shì是tā他duì对lǐ xiǎng理想de的zhuī qiú追求fēi cháng非常chún cuì纯粹，méi yǒu没有yīn wèi因为xiàn shí现实de的kùn nán困难ér而tuǒ xié妥协，yě也méi yǒu没有yīn wèi因为shí jiān时间de的liú shì流逝ér而jiǎn shǎo减少。

This means their pursuit of ideals is very pure, without compromising due to reality or diminishing over time.

dāng rán当然，tā它yě也kě yǐ可以shì是bù hǎo不好de的。

Of course, it can also be negative.

yǒu shí hòu有时候wǒ men我们huì会tīng dào听到bié rén别人shuō说，zhè这shì是yī cháng一场“bù zhé bù kòu不折不扣de的zāi nàn灾难”。

Sometimes we hear people say that something was a 不折不扣的灾难.

zhè这shuō míng说明zhè这chǎng场zāi nàn灾难fēi cháng非常chè dǐ彻底，méi yǒu没有rèn hé任何zhí de值得qìng xìng庆幸de的dì fāng地方。

This indicates that the disaster was complete, with no silver lining whatsoever.

suǒ yǐ所以，“bù zhé bù kòu不折不扣”jiù就xiàng像shì是yí gè一个qiáng diào强调fú hào符号。

So, 不折不扣 is like an emphasis mark.

tā它zài在gào sù告诉tīng zhòng听众：bú yào不要huái yí怀疑，bú yào不要yǐ wéi以为wǒ我zài在kuā zhāng夸张，shì shí事实jiù shì就是zhè yàng这样，wán wán zhěng zhěng完完整整，shí shí zài zài实实在在。

It tells the listener: do not doubt, do not think I am exaggerating; the fact is exactly like this, complete and real.

zài在xiàn dài现代shēng huó生活zhōng中，wǒ men我们xí guàn习惯le了tuǒ xié妥协，xí guàn习惯le了shuō说“hái还xíng行ba吧”、“chà bu duō差不多”。

In modern life, we are used to compromising and saying "it's okay" or "close enough."

zhèng正yīn wèi因为zhè yàng这样，nà xiē那些“bù zhé bù kòu不折不扣”de的tài dù态度cái才xiǎn de显得tè bié特别zhēn guì珍贵。

Because of this, a 不折不扣 attitude appears particularly precious.

xià cì下次，dāng当nǐ你xiǎng yào想要biǎo dá表达yī zhǒng一种jué duì绝对de的kěn dìng肯定，huò zhě或者xíng róng形容yī zhǒng一种méi yǒu没有rèn hé任何shuǐ fèn水分de的zhuàng tài状态shí时，bù fáng不妨yòng用shàng上zhè ge这个cí词。

Next time, when you want to express absolute certainty or describe a state without any dilution, try using this word.

tā它huì会ràng让nǐ你shuō说de huà的话，tīng qǐ lái听起来gèng更yǒu有fèn liàng分量。

It will make what you say sound much more substantial.

'造句' Feature Usage Guide

造句练习📝

Try creating sentences using '不折不扣'!

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