不为人知
bù wéi rén zhī
unknown to others; little known
Character by character
不bù
not
not
为wéi
by
by
人rén
people
people
知zhī
known
known
Example
这位作家晚年过着不为人知的生活。
In her later years the writer lived a life nobody knew about.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
A frozen 为…所… passive (lesson 4-2): 不为人(所)知. Often before 的: 不为人知的秘密, 不为人知的一面. 鲜为人知 means “little known”.
Learn this in Lesson 125 · HSK 7–9: 哈尔滨头骨之谜 (Interview: the Harbin skull)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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