不死不活 bù sǐ bù huó neither dead nor alive

Explanation

形容事物缺乏生气活力，停滞不前，或处于一种尴尬的境地。

Describes something lacking vitality and dynamism, stagnant, or in an awkward situation.

Origin Story

从前，有个小镇，镇上的商店都生意冷清，人们好像都失去了活力。一位年轻的艺术家来到小镇，他看到这里的景象，决定用自己的画笔改变这里。他开始创作一系列充满活力和色彩的画作，描绘小镇未来的美好景象。他把画挂在各个商店的门口，让画作成为小镇新的标志。他的画作不仅吸引了游客的目光，也让小镇居民的心中燃起了希望。大家开始积极地参与到小镇的建设中来，商店也开始焕发生机，整个小镇都变得热闹起来。这个小镇，不再是以前那个不死不活的样子，它重新拥有了生机和活力。

cóngqián, yǒu gè xiǎozhèn, zhèn shang de shāngdiàn dōu shēngyì lěngqīng, rénmen hǎoxiàng dōu shīqùle huólì. yī wèi niánqīng de yìshùjiā lái dào xiǎozhèn, tā kàn dào zhèlǐ de jǐngxiàng, juédìng yòng zìjǐ de huàbǐ gǎibiàn zhèlǐ. tā kāishǐ chuàngzuò yī xìliè chōngmǎn huólì hé sècǎi de huàzuò, miáohuì xiǎozhèn wèilái de měihǎo jǐngxiàng. tā bǎ huà guà zài gè gè shāngdiàn de ménkǒu, ràng huàzuò chéngwéi xiǎozhèn xīn de biaozhì. tā de huàzuò bù jǐn xīyǐn le yóukè de mùguāng, yě ràng xiǎozhèn jūmín de xīn zhōng ránqǐle xīwàng. dàjiā kāishǐ jījí de cānyù dào xiǎozhèn de jiàn shè zhōng lái, shāngdiàn yě kāishǐ huànfā shēngjī, zhěng gè xiǎozhèn dōu biàn de rènào qǐlái. zhège xiǎozhèn, bù zài shì yǐqián nàge bù sǐ bù huó de yàngzi, tā chóngxīn yǒngyǒu le shēngjī hé huólì.

Once upon a time, there was a small town where the shops were all quiet and people seemed to have lost their vitality. A young artist came to the town and seeing the situation, decided to use his brush to change it. He began to create a series of vibrant and colorful works, depicting the beautiful future of the town. He hung the paintings in front of each shop, making them the new symbol of the town. His works not only attracted the attention of tourists, but also ignited hope in the hearts of the townspeople. They began to actively participate in the reconstruction of the town, shops began to flourish, and the whole town became lively. The town was no longer the stagnant place it once was, it was filled with new life and vigor.

Usage

用于形容事物或局面缺乏活力，停滞不前，或处于一种尴尬的境地。

yòng yú miáoshù shìwù huò júmiàn quēfá huólì, tíngzhì bù qián, huò chǔyú yī zhǒng gānggà de jìngdì

Used to describe something or a situation that lacks vitality, is stagnant, or is in an awkward position.

Examples

• 这公司最近有点不死不活的。

  zhège gōngsī zuìjìn yǒudiǎn bù sǐ bù huó de

  The company has been rather stagnant lately.

• 这个项目进展不死不活的，让人着急。

  zhège xiàngmù jìnzǎn bù sǐ bù huó de, ràng rén zhāojí

  The project's progress is rather slow and worrying..

Related Idioms

• 半死不活

• 奄奄一息

Opposite Idioms

• 生机勃勃

• 欣欣向荣