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只可意会，不可言传

zhǐ kě yì huì , bù kě yán chuándictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
can be understood, but not described (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuāng zǐ]) / mysterious and subtle
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-b698043f1a372568. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

只可意會，不可言傳 只可意会，不可言传 [zhi3 ke3 yi4 hui4 , bu4 ke3 yan2 chuan2] /can be understood, but not described (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuang1 zi3]); mysterious and subtle/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 只可意會，不可言傳

  • 只
    zhī

    grain that has begun to ripen / classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc

    zhǐ

    only / merely / just

  • 可
    kě

    (prefix) can / may / able to / -able / to approve / to permit / to suit / (particle used for emphasis) certainly / very / but / however

    kè

    used in 可汗[kè hán]

  • 意
    yì

    (bound form) idea / thought / meaning / sense / (bound form) intention / feeling / inclination / state of mind / (bound form) Italy (abbr. for 意大利[Yì dà lì])

  • 会
    huì

    can / to have the skill / to know how to / to be likely to / to be sure to / to meet / to get together / meeting / gathering / (suffix) union / group / association / (bound form) a moment (Taiwan pr. [huǐ])

    kuài

    (bound form) to reckon accounts

  • 不
    bù

    no / not so / (bound form) not / un-

  • 可
    kě

    (prefix) can / may / able to / -able / to approve / to permit / to suit / (particle used for emphasis) certainly / very / but / however

    kè

    used in 可汗[kè hán]

  • 言
    yán

    words / speech / to say / to talk

  • 传
    chuán

    to pass on / to spread / to transmit / to infect / to transfer / to circulate / to conduct (electricity)

    zhuàn

    biography / historical narrative / commentaries / relay station

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.