讳莫如深
huì mò rú shēn
to refuse to say a word about something
Character by character
讳huì
conceal
conceal
莫mò
nothing
nothing
如rú
as
as
深shēn
deep
deep
Example
对于离职的真正原因，他一直讳莫如深。
He has never said a word about the real reason he left.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
From 《谷梁传》: the graver the matter, the more deeply it is hidden. 讳 is the “taboo” in 忌讳. Often said of firms and officials who will not comment.
Learn this in Lesson 111 · HSK 7–9: 绕着说 (Talking around it online)
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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