杳无踪影 yǎo wú zōng yǐng vanished without a trace

Explanation

形容人或事物消失得无影无踪，一点踪迹也找不到。

Describes a person or thing that has disappeared without a trace, leaving no sign behind.

Origin Story

传说在古老的蜀国，有一位技艺高超的工匠，他制作的机关盒巧夺天工，机关盒中藏有珍贵的宝物。然而，这位工匠完成作品后，便带着机关盒悄然离去，从此杳无踪影。人们四处寻找，却始终未能找到工匠和机关盒的下落，只留下许多关于机关盒的传说，成为千古之谜。有人说工匠隐居深山，有人说他去了海外仙境，还有人说机关盒被机关巧妙地隐藏了起来，至今无人能解开其秘密。

chuánshuō zài gǔlǎo de shǔ guó, yǒu yī wèi jìyì gāochāo de gōngjiàng, tā zhìzuò de jīguān hé qiǎoduó tiāngōng, jīguān hé zhōng cáng yǒu zhēnguì de bǎowù. rán'ér, zhè wèi gōngjiàng wánchéng zuòpǐn hòu, biàn dài zhe jīguān hé qiāorán líqù, cóngcǐ yǎo wú zōng yǐng. rénmen sìchù xúnzhǎo, què shǐzhōng wèi néng zhǎodào gōngjiàng hé jīguān hé de xiàluò, zhǐ liúxià xǔduō guānyú jīguān hé de chuánshuō, chéngwéi qiānguǐ zhī mí.

Legend has it that in ancient Shu, a highly skilled craftsman created an exquisitely crafted mechanical box containing precious treasures. After completing his work, however, the craftsman disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only legends about the box. People searched everywhere, yet never found the craftsman or his box, leaving the box's whereabouts a mystery to this day.

Usage

多用于描写人或事物失踪或消失的情况，强调完全找不到踪迹。

duō yòng yú miáoxiě rén huò shìwù shīzōng huò xiāoshī de qíngkuàng, qiángdiào wánquán zhǎo bù dào zōngjì.

Often used to describe the disappearance of a person or thing, emphasizing the complete lack of trace.

Examples

• 自从他搬家后就杳无踪影了。

  zìcóng tā bānjiā hòu jiù yǎo wú zōng yǐng le.

  He has been missing since he moved.

• 那只猫逃跑了，杳无踪影。

  nà zhī māo táopǎo le, yǎo wú zōng yǐng

  The cat ran away and disappeared without a trace.

Related Idioms

• 杳无音信

• 踪迹全无

Opposite Idioms

• 无处不在

• 历历在目