目不识丁

目不識丁

mùbù-shídīng

idiom

Meanings

1 eyes that can't recognize the character 丁
2 completely illiterate
3 unable to read a single word

Characters

(the character) 丁 / simplest word

Examples

HSK 4

过去的农村，很多老人目不识丁。

Guòqù de nóngcūn, hěnduō lǎorén mùbù-shídīng.

In villages of old, many elderly people were completely illiterate.

HSK 5

这种合同怎么能让目不识丁的人签？

Zhèzhǒng hétong zěnme néng ràng mùbù-shídīng de rén qiān?

How can you let someone who can't read sign a contract like this?

HSK 7-9

他虽然目不识丁，却是个精明的商人。

Tā suīrán mùbù-shídīng, quèshì ge jīngmíng de shāngrén.

He can't read a word, yet he's a shrewd businessman.

Tips

history

From 《旧唐书·张弘靖传》: Tang governor Zhang Hongjing scolded his rough soldiers saying that 'drawing a strong bow is worth less than knowing a single character 丁.' 丁 was chosen because it's one of the simplest characters - not knowing even this was the deepest possible illiteracy.

Stroke Order

目 mù

不 bù

识 shí

丁 dīng