DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

不可開交

简不可开交 · 繁不可開交

Mandarin · pinyin bù kě kāi jiāo

to be awfully (busy etc)

Full entryShow on map

Characters in this entry

不: bù · no, not; un-; negative prefix
可: kě · may, can, -able; possibly
開: kāi · open; initiate, begin, start
交: jiāo · mix; intersect; exchange, communicate; deliver
开: kāi · open; initiate, begin, start

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

Explore the spelling

Mandarin tones

4–3–1–1 · bu4 ke3 kai1 jiao1

Compare attested words with these syllables ↗

Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

Connected dictionary

5character links

Explore word families ↗Compare pronunciations ↗Open character structure ↗

Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.

Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

不可開交 · find source passages ↗ · 不可开交 · find source passages ↗

Explore Classical grammar ↗

Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

bat1 ho2 hoi1 gaau1

Cantonese word readings for 不可開交. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) unable to break away from one's duties or tasks; can't catch a break

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack