密不透风
mì bù tòu fēng
so tightly closed or packed that no air gets through; airtight
Character by character
密mì
tight
tight
不bù
not
not
透tòu
let through
let through
风fēng
wind
wind
Example
门窗都关得密不透风，屋子里又闷又热。
The doors and windows were shut tight, and the room was stuffy and hot.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Literal for sealed rooms, boxes and tombs, and figurative for crowds (人群围得密不透风) and secrecy (消息封锁得密不透风). Usually after 得 as a complement: 封得、围得、捂得密不透风. The same picture turns up in the saying 世上没有不透风的墙, “there is no wall the wind cannot get through”: secrets always get out.
Learn this in Lesson 175 · HSK 7–9: 马王堆 (The tombs of Mawangdui)
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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