不痛不痒 bù tòng bù yǎng neither pain nor itch

Explanation

原指感受不到痛痒，现多形容对某事不关心、不重视，或批评、建议不中肯、不起作用。

Originally, it means feeling neither pain nor itching. Now, it mostly describes the indifference or inattention to something, or criticism or suggestions that are not pertinent or effective.

Origin Story

从前，有个秀才，为了参加科举考试，苦读十年寒窗。十年磨一剑，他信心满满地准备大展宏图。然而，考试结果却让他大失所望，只考了个落第。他回家后，垂头丧气，茶饭不思。他的老父亲见状，便安慰他说：“孩子，这次考试失利，并不代表你以后就一事无成。人生的路还很长，这次只是一个小小的挫折罢了。不要因为这次的失败就灰心丧气，要继续努力，争取下次考个好成绩。”老父亲还特意为他准备了一桌丰盛的晚餐，试图用美味佳肴来安慰他受伤的心灵。但秀才依然闷闷不乐，他觉得父亲的安慰显得有些苍白无力，不痛不痒，没有触及到他内心的痛点。他觉得父亲根本不懂他的苦衷，不明白他十年寒窗的辛苦和付出的心血都付诸东流了。父亲的安慰，就像隔靴搔痒，让他更加难受。

cóng qián, yǒu ge xiùcái, wèile cānjiā kējǔ kǎoshì, kǔ dú shí nián hánchuāng. shí nián mó yī jiàn, tā xìnxīn mǎnmǎn de zhǔnbèi dà zhǎn hóngtú. rán'ér, kǎoshì jiéguǒ què ràng tā dà shī suǒwàng, zhǐ kǎo le ge luòdì. tā huí jiā hòu, chuítóu sàng qì, cháfàn bù sī. tā de lǎo fùqīn jiàn zhàng, biàn ānwèi tā shuō: ‘háizi, zhè cì kǎoshì shīlì, bìng bù dài biǎo nǐ yǐhòu jiù yīshì wú chéng. rénshēng de lù hái hěn cháng, zhè cì zhǐshì yīgè xiǎoxiǎo de cuòzhé bà le. bùyào yīnwèi zhè cì de shībài jiù huīxīn sàng qì, yào jìxù nǔlì, zhēngqǔ xià cì kǎo ge hǎo chéngjī.’ lǎo fùqīn hái tèyì wèi tā zhǔnbèi le yī zhuō fēngshèng de wǎncān, shìtú yòng měiwèi jiāyáo lái ānwèi tā shòushāng de xīnlíng. dàn xiùcái yīrán mèn mèn bù lè, tā juéde fùqīn de ānwèi xiǎnde yǒuxiē cāngbái wú lì, bù tòng bù yǎng, méiyǒu chùjí dào tā nèixīn de tòngdiǎn. tā juéde fùqīn gēnběn bù dǒng tā de kǔzhōng, bù míngbái tā shí nián hánchuāng de xīnkǔ hé fùchū de xīnxuè dōu fùzhū dōngliú le. fùqīn de ānwèi, jiù xiàng géxuē sāoyǎng, ràng tā gèngjiā nánshòu.

Once upon a time, there was a scholar who had studied hard for ten years to prepare for the imperial examination. Confident and ready, he was disappointed to fail the exam. He went home dejected and lost his appetite. His old father comforted him, "Son, this failure doesn't mean you'll never succeed. Life is long, this is just a setback. Don't lose heart; keep working and aim for a better result next time." His father prepared a feast to comfort him. But the scholar remained unhappy; the comfort felt pale, insignificant, not touching the real hurt. He felt his father didn't understand his hardship and the years of effort that had gone to waste.

Usage

多用于形容批评、建议、处理问题等不痛不痒，没有效果。

duō yòng yú xíngróng pīpíng, jiànyì, chǔlǐ wèntí děng bù tòng bù yǎng, méiyǒu xiàoguǒ

Often used to describe criticism, suggestions, or problem-solving that is ineffective.

Examples

• 这次会议讨论的问题不痛不痒，没有解决任何实际问题。

  zhè cì huìyì tǎolùn de wèntí bù tòng bù yǎng, méiyǒu jiějué rènhé shíjì wèntí

  The problems discussed at this meeting were insignificant and did not solve any practical problems.

• 他的批评不痛不痒，让人感觉不到任何力度。

  tā de pīpíng bù tòng bù yǎng, ràng rén gǎnjué bù dào rènhé lìdù

  His criticism was mild and lacked any impact.

• 这篇论文不痛不痒，缺乏深度和见解。

  zhè piān lùnwén bù tòng bù yǎng, quēfá shēndù hé jiànjiě

  This paper is superficial and lacks depth and insight.

Related Idioms

• 无关痛痒

• 无伤大雅

• 不痛不痒

• 不疼不痒

Opposite Idioms

• 一针见血

• 一语中的

• 切中要害