不可不察也

bù kě bù chá yě
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 cannot but be examined
  2. 2 this must not go unexamined
  3. 3 Mencius' emphatic clause demanding careful scrutiny

Examples

HSK 4
Cǐ shì guānxì zhòngdà, bù kě bù chá yě.
This matter is of grave importance - it must not go unexamined.
HSK 7-9
Shùjù yìcháng bèihòu huò yǒu xuánjī, bù kě bù chá yě.
Behind abnormal data there may be something hidden - it must not go unexamined.

Tips

history
The doubled negative 不可不 ('cannot not') makes for strong affirmation, equal to 'must.' The X 不可不察也 warning frame, urging careful discrimination, is a recurring classical formula in pre-Qin philosophical and strategic texts.
usage
不可不…… is a Classical Chinese double-negative pattern of emphasis, equal to 必须 (must). Strongly literary in flavor; today mostly seen in commentary, opinion writing, and policy documents.

Stroke Order

chá