未知数

未知數

wèizhīshù

noun HSK 7-9 #28,990

Meanings

1 unknown quantity; unknown variable
2 uncertainty; an unknown

Characters

Literally 'not-yet-known number' — from math (x in an equation) expanded to mean any uncertainty.

Examples

他能否成功还是个未知数。

Tā néngfǒu chénggōng háishì gè wèizhīshù.

Whether he can succeed is still an unknown.

未来充满了未知数。

Wèilái chōngmǎn le wèizhīshù.

The future is full of unknowns.

Tips

usage

未知数 works in both math class (solve for the unknown) and daily life (an uncertain outcome). The phrase 还是个未知数 ('still an unknown') is extremely common in news and conversation.

Stroke Order

未 wèi

知 zhī

数 shù