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云深不知处

雲深不知處
yúnshēnbùzhīchù
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 deep in the clouds — who knows where
  2. 2 lost in mist, whereabouts unknown
  3. 3 (lit.) clouds deep, not know where

Examples

老师傅归隐山林，真成了云深不知处。
Lǎo shīfù guīyǐn shānlín, zhēn chéng le yún shēn bù zhī chù.
The old master retired into the mountains — truly lost deep in the clouds.
几经辗转，当年的老朋友早已云深不知处。
Jǐ jīng zhǎnzhuǎn, dāngnián de lǎo péngyǒu zǎo yǐ yún shēn bù zhī chù.
After many moves, that old friend of long ago has vanished deep into the clouds.

Tips

history
From Jia Dao's (贾岛) Tang-dynasty quatrain 《寻隐者不遇》 (Seeking the Hermit and Not Finding Him). Full poem: 『松下问童子，言师采药去。只在此山中，云深不知处』— 'under the pine I asked the young disciple; he said the master had gone gathering herbs. Only here in these hills — but the clouds are deep, no knowing where.' Four lines, three speakers, one masterful mood of absence.
usage
Used for anyone or anything elusive — a missing person, a lost original, a forgotten source. Also in 金庸's wuxia tradition as shorthand for reclusive masters dwelling on remote peaks.

Stroke Order

云 yún
深 shēn
不 bù
知 zhī
处 chù