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水泄不通

水洩不通
shuǐxièbùtōng
idiom #39,415

Meanings

  1. 1 so tightly packed that not even water can trickle through (idiom)
  2. 2 jammed solid
  3. 3 (of a crowd or siege) impenetrable

Examples

演唱会现场挤得水泄不通。
Yǎnchànghuì xiànchǎng jǐ de shuǐxièbùtōng.
The concert venue was packed so tight you couldn't move.
警察把大楼围得水泄不通。
Jǐngchá bǎ dàlóu wéi de shuǐxièbùtōng.
The police had the building sealed off airtight.
节假日高速路堵得水泄不通。
Jié jiàrì gāosù lù dǔ de shuǐxièbùtōng.
During the holiday the expressway was totally gridlocked.

Tips

memory
Literally 'water can't leak through' (水泄不通). Picture a crowd so dense even water molecules can't squeeze between people.
usage
Typically follows 挤得 (packed), 围得 (surrounded), 堵得 (blocked). Used for crowds, sieges, and traffic — not for abstract obstacles.

Stroke Order

水 shuǐ
泄 xiè
不 bù
通 tōng