素不相识

素不相識

sùbù-xiāngshí

idiom HSK 7-9 #30,270

Meanings

1 to have never met before
2 complete strangers

Characters

always; usually

each other; mutually

to know; to recognize

Literally 'have always not known each other'

Examples

他们素不相识，却在旅途中成了好朋友。

Tāmen sùbùxiāngshí, què zài lǚtú zhōng chéng le hǎo péngyǒu.

They were complete strangers, yet they became good friends during the trip.

一个素不相识的人帮助了她。

Yīgè sùbùxiāngshí de rén bāngzhù le tā.

A complete stranger helped her.

Tips

usage

素 here means 'always; from the start' (a literary usage), not 'plain' or 'vegetarian.' The idiom emphasizes that two people have never known each other at all.

Stroke Order

素 sù

不 bù

相 xiāng

识 shí