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可以意會，不可言傳

简可以意会，不可言传 · 繁可以意會，不可言傳

Mandarin · pinyin kě yǐ yì huì , bù kě yán chuán

can be understood, but not described (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子 Zhuāng zǐ); mysterious and subtle

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Characters in this entry

可: kě · may, can, -able; possibly
以: yǐ · by means of; thereby, therefore; consider as; in order to
意: yì · thought, idea, opinion; think
會: huì · to assemble, meet together; a meeting; an organization
不: bù · no, not; un-; negative prefix
言: yán · words, speech; speak, say; Kangxi radical 149
傳: chuán · summon; propagate, transmit
会: huì · assemble, meet together; meeting
传: chuán · summon; propagate, transmit

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

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