无可奉告

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: wú kě fèng gào
• English Translation: No comment; unable to provide any information
• Idiom Composition: 「无」（None; not have）＋「可」（Can; able to）＋「奉」（To respectfully offer or present）＋「告」（To inform; to tell）
• Meaning: An expression used to indicate that there is nothing to report or disclose. It is often used to refuse to answer because there is no information to share or because one does not wish to reveal it.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「无可奉告」 contains the following nuances:

• Refusal: A clear indication of refusal to answer questions or requests.
• Non-disclosure of information: Indicates a situation where one either does not have information or cannot or does not want to disclose it.
• Official stance: May indicate that the speaker is representing an organization or official position rather than personal opinion.
• Politeness: A somewhat formal and indirect way to refuse to answer, conveying refusal politely without explicitly saying 'I don't want to answer.'

3. Usage

「无可奉告」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Formal occasions: Commonly used in formal settings such as press conferences, interviews, and official investigations.
  • Example:「关于此次事件的详细情况，我们目前无可奉告。」
    （Regarding the details of this incident, we currently have no comment.）
• Confidential information: Used when asked about highly confidential information such as trade secrets, state secrets, or ongoing investigations.
  • Example:「对于新产品的开发进度，我们无可奉告。」
    （Regarding the development progress of the new product, we have no comment.）
• Privacy: Used to refuse to answer questions related to personal privacy.
  • Example:「关于他的私生活，我无可奉告。」
    （Regarding his private life, I have no comment.）

Additional Examples:

1. 面对记者的追问，这位官员始终无可奉告。
   （Faced with persistent questions from reporters, the official consistently gave no comment.）
2. 关于这起案件的调查进展，警方表示无可奉告。
   （Regarding the progress of the investigation into this case, the police stated they have no comment.）
3. 在新闻发布会上，发言人对敏感问题一律以无可奉告回应。
   （At the press conference, the spokesperson responded to sensitive questions uniformly with no comment.）
4. 当被问及公司的未来战略时，CEO表示无可奉告。
   （When asked about the company's future strategy, the CEO stated no comment.）
5. 对于外界的种种猜测，当事人始终保持沉默，无可奉告。
   （Regarding various external speculations, the person involved remained silent throughout, maintaining a stance of no comment.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• In Chinese culture, it is common to avoid direct expressions and instead convey intentions indirectly. '无可奉告' reflects this cultural tendency as a polite and indirect way to refuse to provide information.
• While '不知道 (bù zhī dào)' simply means 'I don't know,' '无可奉告' carries the nuance that one may know but cannot or does not want to disclose the information.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 守口如瓶 (shǒu kǒu rú píng): To keep one's mouth shut; to guard a secret.
  • 缄口不言 (jiān kǒu bù yán): To keep silent and say nothing.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 直言不讳 (zhí yán bú huì): To speak frankly without hesitation.
  • 畅所欲言 (chàng suǒ yù yán): To speak freely and express one's thoughts openly.

6. Summary

'无可奉告' is an expression that goes beyond simply 'not knowing'; it conveys a strong intention not to disclose or unwillingness to share information. Understanding this idiom helps learners grasp the indirect communication style common in Chinese culture and use it appropriately in formal and business contexts.