五里雾

五里霧
wǔlǐwù
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 a five-li fog
  2. 2 a state of total confusion; utterly in the dark
  3. 3 lost in the mist

Examples

Tīng wán tā de jiěshì, wǒ fǎn'ér zhuìrù wǔlǐwù zhōng.
After hearing his explanation I was more lost in the fog than before.
Zhè fèn héngtóng kàn de wǒ zhuìrù wǔlǐwù.
This contract left me completely in the dark.
Tā shuōhuà cháng ràng rén rú zhuì wǔlǐwù zhōng.
Talking to him often leaves you totally befuddled.

Tips

history
From 《·》: Zhang Kai was said to be able to conjure a five-li-wide fog around himself at will. The phrase 'fall into a five-li fog' took on the sense of 'be hopelessly lost in confusion' and has stayed that way.
usage
Idiomatic collocation: 坠入五里雾 or 五里雾 ('as though fallen into a five-li fog'). here is the old Chinese mile (~500m).

Stroke Order