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想不通

xiǎng bu tōngdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
unable to understand / unable to get over
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-ba3464740b839445. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

想不通 想不通 [xiang3 bu5 tong1] /unable to understand/unable to get over/

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.

  • 想
    xiǎng

    to think (about) / to think of / to devise / to think (that) / to believe (that) / to desire / to want (to) / to miss (feel wistful about the absence of)

  • 不
    bù

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

  • 通
    tōng

    to go through / to know well / (suffix) expert / to connect / to communicate / open / to clear / classifier for letters, telegrams, phone calls etc

    tòng

    classifier for an activity, taken in its entirety (tirade of abuse, stint of music playing, bout of drinking etc)

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.