不可告人

bùkěgàorén

idiom #15,383

Meanings

1 not to be divulged
2 to be kept secret
3 ulterior (motives)

Characters

to tell; to inform

Examples

他一定有什么不可告人的秘密。

Tā yīdìng yǒu shénme bùkěgàorén de mìmì.

He must have some secret that can't be told.

这背后有不可告人的目的。

Zhè bèihòu yǒu bùkěgàorén de mùdì.

There is an ulterior motive behind this.

Tips

usage

Almost always carries a negative connotation — implies something shameful or sinister. Common collocations: 不可告人的秘密 (unspeakable secret), 不可告人的目的 (ulterior motive).

Stroke Order

不 bù

可 kě

告 gào

人 rén