不可告人

bùkě-gàorén

idiom #15,383

Meanings

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

Characters

to tell; to inform

Examples

HSK 5

他一定有什么不可告人的秘密。

Tā yídìng yǒu shénme bùkě-gàorén de mìmì.

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

HSK 5

这背后有不可告人的目的。

Zhè bèihòu yǒu bùkě-gàorén 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