无所不知 wú suǒ bù zhī know-it-all

Explanation

无所不知形容什么事情都知道，没有不懂得的，常用来比喻学识渊博、知识广博。

Wú suǒ bù zhī describes someone who knows everything, without knowing anything. It is often used to describe someone who is knowledgeable and has extensive knowledge.

Origin Story

在古代的某一个朝代，有一个名叫李白的书生，从小就爱好读书，而且记忆力惊人。他读过的书，都能记得清清楚楚，而且还能融会贯通，举一反三。他经常去书店里看书，有时一呆就是一整天，书店老板都认识他了，知道他是个爱读书的人。 有一天，李白在书店里看书，突然听到旁边有人在讨论一个问题。李白仔细一听，发现他们讨论的问题是他很早就研究过的，于是就插话参与了讨论。 李白说：“这个问题，其实很简单，我早就研究过，答案就是……” 他的话还没说完，就被旁边的人打断了。那个人说：“你懂什么？这个问题可是难倒了许多学者，你一个年轻人，怎么可能知道答案呢？” 李白笑了笑，说：“我从小就爱好读书，读过的书也不少，这个问题我还是知道的。你们不信的话，我可以给大家讲一讲。” 于是，李白就把他对这个问题的理解和看法，详细地讲给那些人听。那些人听完后，都对他佩服得五体投地。 从那天开始，李白就成了当地有名的才子，人们都称赞他无所不知。 后来，李白考上了进士，在朝中做官。他利用自己的学识和才华，为百姓做了很多好事，深受百姓的爱戴。

zài gǔ dài de mǒu yī ge cháo dài, yǒu yī ge míng jiào lǐ bái de shū shēng, cóng xiǎo jiù ài hào dú shū, ér qiě jì yì lì jīng rén. tā dú guò de shū, dōu néng jì de qīng qīng chǔ chǔ, ér qiě hái néng róng huì guàn tōng, jǔ yī fǎn sān. tā jīng cháng qù shū diàn lǐ kàn shū, yǒu shí yī dāi jiù shì yī zhěng tiān, shū diàn lǎo bǎn dōu rènshi tā le, zhī dào tā shì ge ài dú shū de rén. yǒu yī tiān, lǐ bái zài shū diàn lǐ kàn shū, tú rán tīng dào páng biān yǒu rén zài tǎo lùn yī ge wèn tí. lǐ bái zǐ xì yī tīng, fā xiàn tā men tǎo lùn de wèn tí shì tā hěn zǎo jiù yán jiū guò de, yú shì jiù chā huà cān yù le tǎo lùn. lǐ bái shuō:“zhè ge wèn tí, qí shí hěn jiǎn dān, wǒ zǎo jiù yán jiū guò, dá àn jiù shì……” tā de huà hái méi shuō wán, jiù bèi páng biān de rén dǎ duàn le. nà ge rén shuō:“nǐ dǒng shén me? zhè ge wèn tí kě shì nán dǎo le xǔ duō xué zhě, nǐ yī ge nián qīng rén, zěn me kě néng zhī dào dá àn ne?” lǐ bái xiào le xiào, shuō:“wǒ cóng xiǎo jiù ài hào dú shū, dú guò de shū yě bù shǎo, zhè ge wèn tí wǒ hái shì zhī dào de. nǐ men bù xìn de huà, wǒ kě yǐ gěi dà jiā jiǎng yī jiǎng.” yú shì, lǐ bái jiù bǎ tā duì zhè ge wèn tí de lǐ jiě hé kàn fǎ, xiáng xì de jiǎng gěi nà xiē rén tīng. nà xiē rén tīng wán hòu, dōu duì tā pèi fú de wǔ tǐ tóu dì. cóng nà tiān kāi shǐ, lǐ bái jiù chéng le dì fāng yǒu míng de cái zǐ, rén men dōu chēng zàn tā wú suǒ bù zhī. hòu lái, lǐ bái kǎo shàng le jìn shì, zài cháo zhōng zuò guān. tā lì yòng zì jǐ de xué shí hé cái huá, wèi bǎi xìng zuò le hěn duō hǎo shì, shēn shòu bǎi xìng de ài dài.

In a certain ancient kingdom, there lived a scholar named Li Bai, who loved to read since childhood and had an astonishing memory. All the books he read, he could remember in detail, and he could also connect them with each other and learn from one example to many. He often visited bookstores and stayed there for hours, sometimes even the whole day. The bookstore owners knew him and knew that he was a bookworm. One day, Li Bai was reading in a bookstore when he suddenly heard someone discussing a particular topic. Li Bai listened carefully and realized it was a topic he had been studying for a long time, so he joined the discussion. Li Bai said, “This is very simple, I’ve been studying this for a long time, the answer is…” But he could not finish his sentence, because he was interrupted by someone else. This person said, “What do you understand? This question has stumped many scholars. You’re just a young man, how could you know the answer?” Li Bai smiled and said, “I’ve loved to read since childhood, and I’ve read many books, so I know this question. If you don’t believe me, I can tell you about it.” So Li Bai told the others in detail about his understanding and thoughts on the topic. The others were impressed and admired him. From that day on, Li Bai became a well-known scholar in the area, and people admired him for his vast knowledge. Later, Li Bai passed the civil service exam and became an official at the court. He used his knowledge and talent to do many good things for the people, and was deeply loved by them.

Usage

形容人学识渊博，什么事情都知道。常用于褒义，用来赞扬一个人博学多识。

xióng róng rén xué shí yuān bó, shén me shì qíng dōu zhī dào. cháng yòng yú bāo yì, yòng lái zàn yáng yī ge rén bó xué duō shí.

It is used to describe someone who is knowledgeable and knows everything. It is often used in a positive sense to praise someone who is knowledgeable and has a lot of knowledge.

Examples

• 他学识渊博，无所不知，真是令人佩服！

  tā xué shí yuān bó, wú suǒ bù zhī, zhēn de lìng rén pèi fú!

  He is knowledgeable and knows everything, truly admirable!

• 这个老师无所不知，问他任何问题都能解答。

  zhè ge lǎo shī wú suǒ bù zhī, wèn tā rè hé wèn tí dōu néng jiě dá.

  This teacher knows everything, he can answer any question.

• 虽然她无所不知，但是她却不知道如何与人相处。

  suī rán tā wú suǒ bù zhī, dàn shì tā què bù zhī dào rú hé yǔ rén xiāng chǔ.

  Although she knows everything, she doesn't know how to get along with people.

Related Idioms

• 无所不晓

• 博学多才

• 博古通今

Opposite Idioms

• 一无所知

• 愚昧无知