无言以对

無言以對

wúyányǐduì

idiom #37,815

Meanings

HSK 7-9

面对妈妈的质问，他无言以对。

Miànduì māma de zhìwèn, tā wúyányǐduì.

Faced with his mother's interrogation, he had nothing to say in reply.

HSK 7-9

证据摆在眼前，被告无言以对。

Zhèngjù bǎi zài yǎnqián, bèigào wúyányǐduì.

With the evidence right in front of him, the defendant was speechless.

grammar

Pattern: 无 X 以 Y - 'to have no X with which to Y.' Same structure in 无言以对, 无以为报, 无地自容. The 以 marks instrumental use.

usage

Implies the silence comes from being cornered or refuted, not from politeness or shyness. For tongue-tied embarrassment, use 哑口无言.

无 wú

言 yán

以 yǐ

对 duì