執迷不悟

简 执迷不悟 · 繁 執迷不悟
Mandarin · pinyin zhí mí bù wù

Meanings

  1. to obstinately persist in going about things the wrong way (idiom)
Full entryShow on map

Characters in this entry

執
Look up this written character
迷
mí · bewitch, charm, infatuate
不
bù · no, not; un-; negative prefix
悟
wù · to apprehend, realize, become aware
执
zhí · hold in hand; keep; carry out
Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

Explore the spelling

Mandarin tones

2–2–4–4 · zhi2 mi2 bu4 wu4

Compare attested words with these syllables ↗

Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

Connected dictionary

4character 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.

執迷不悟 · find source passages ↗ · 执迷不悟 · find source passages ↗

Explore Classical grammar ↗

Compare dictionary sources Rime · Wiktionary

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

zap1 mai4 bat1 ng6

Cantonese word readings for 執迷不悟. 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

  1. (idiomatic) to wilfully persist in going about things the wrong way; to refuse to realise one's error

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

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