DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

不識時務

简不识时务 · 繁不識時務

Mandarin · pinyin bù shí shí wù

to show no understanding of the times (idiom); cannot adapt to current circumstances
not amenable to reason

Full entryShow on map

Characters in this entry

不: bù · no, not; un-; negative prefix
識: Look up this written character
時: shí · time, season; era, age, period
務: Look up this written character
识: shí · shì · recognize, understand, know
时: shí · time, season; era, age, period
务: wù · affairs, business; must, should

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

Explore the spelling

Mandarin tones

4–2–2–4 · bu4 shi2 shi2 wu4

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.

不識時務 · find source passages ↗ · 不识时务 · find source passages ↗

Explore Classical grammar ↗

Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 2 senses

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

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

phrase

(idiomatic) to show no understanding of the times; to not be able to adapt to current circumstances
(idiomatic) to lack judgement

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

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