不闻不问 bù wén bù wèn ignore

Explanation

不闻不问，指对事情不闻不问，漠不关心。

Not caring about things; indifferent.

Origin Story

从前，在一个偏僻的小山村里，住着一位老秀才。他一生醉心于诗书，对村里的事情从不关心，即使村里发生什么大事小情，他也总是置若罔闻，不闻不问。有一天，村里来了一个算命先生，他算命很准，村里人纷纷去求算。老秀才也很好奇，想去看看热闹。但是，算命先生说，他没时间，让他自己去看书，村里发生什么事情和他一点关系都没有。老秀才听了，也就真的不闻不问了，继续回去看书。后来，村里因为一场大火，损失惨重，村长找到了老秀才，问他有什么办法，老秀才无奈地摇摇头，说他真的不知道。村长很生气，说：你作为村里最有知识的人，竟然不闻不问，现在村里都成这样了，你还要读书！老秀才这才意识到，自己平日里不闻不问是不对的，他应该关心村里的人和事。从此以后，老秀才改变了自己的态度，积极参与到村里的事务中来，为村里的发展贡献了自己的力量。

cóng qián, zài yīgè piānpì de xiǎo shāncūn lǐ, zhù zhe yī wèi lǎo xiùcái. tā yīshēng zuìxīn yú shīshū, duì cūn lǐ de shìqíng cóng bù guānxīn, jíshǐ cūn lǐ fāshēng shénme dàshì xiǎoqíng, tā yě zǒng shì zhì ruò wángwén, bù wén bù wèn. yǒu yītiān, cūn lǐ lái le yīgè suànmìng xiānshēng, tā suànmìng hěn zhǔn, cūn lǐ rén fēnfēn qù qiú suàn. lǎo xiùcái yě hěn hǎoqí, xiǎng qù kàn kan rènao. dànshì, suànmìng xiānshēng shuō, tā méi shíjiān, ràng tā zìjǐ qù kànshū, cūn lǐ fāshēng shénme shìqíng hé tā yīdiǎn guānxi yě méiyǒu. lǎo xiùcái tīng le, yě jiù zhēn de bù wén bù wèn le, jìxù huíqù kànshū. hòulái, cūn lǐ yīnwèi yī chǎng dàhuǒ, sǔnshī cǎnzhòng, cūnzhǎng zhǎodào le lǎo xiùcái, wèn tā yǒu shénme bànfǎ, lǎo xiùcái wú nài dì yàoyáotóu, shuō tā zhēn de bù zhīdào. cūnzhǎng hěn shēngqì, shuō: nǐ zuòwéi cūn lǐ zuì yǒu zhīshì de rén, jìngrán bù wén bù wèn, xiànzài cūn lǐ dōu chéng zhèyàng le, nǐ hái yào dúshū! lǎo xiùcái zhè cái yìshí dào, zìjǐ píng rì lǐ bù wén bù wèn shì bù duì de, tā yīnggāi guānxīn cūn lǐ de rén hé shì. cóngcǐ yǐhòu, lǎo xiùcái gǎibiàn le zìjǐ de tàidu, jījí cānyù dào cūn lǐ de shìwù zhōng lái, wèi cūn lǐ de fāzhǎn gòngxiàn le zìjǐ de lìliang.

Once upon a time, in a remote mountain village, there lived an old scholar. He devoted his life to books and never cared about the village's affairs. Even if big or small things happened in the village, he always ignored them, showing no interest. One day, a fortune-teller came to the village. He was very accurate, and people rushed to him to seek fortune-telling. The old scholar also wanted to join the crowd out of curiosity. But, the fortune-teller told him that he didn't have time and let him read books by himself, the things that happened in the village were of no concern to him. Hearing this, the old scholar indeed ignored it and continued to read books. Later, a great fire in the village caused heavy losses. The head of the village approached the old scholar asking for ideas, and the old scholar helplessly shook his head, saying that he really didn't know. The head of the village became angry, saying: You are the most educated person in the village, yet you remained indifferent, now the village has become like this, and you're still reading! The old scholar then realized that his indifference was wrong, and he should have cared about the people and affairs of the village. From then on, the old scholar changed his attitude, actively participating in village affairs, and contributing his strength to the development of the village.

Usage

形容对事情漠不关心，置之不理。

xiárong duì shìqíng mò bù guānxīn, zhì zhī bù lǐ

describes indifference to matters.

Examples

• 他对周围发生的一切都漠不关心，简直是不闻不问。

  ta dui zhouwei fasheng de yiqie dou mobù guānxīn, jiǎnzhí shì bù wén bù wèn

  He is indifferent to everything that happens around him; he simply ignores it.

• 面对百姓的疾苦，他却是不闻不问，置之不理。

  miànduì bǎixìng de jíkǔ, tā què shì bù wén bù wèn, zhì zhī bù lǐ

  In the face of the suffering of the people, he ignores it and does nothing about it..

Related Idioms

• 漠不关心

• 置之不理

Opposite Idioms

• 关怀备至

• 热心肠