罄竹难书

罄竹難書

qìngzhú-nánshū

idiom #48,460

Meanings

1 too many crimes to record
2 innumerable wrongdoings (lit. all the bamboo would not be enough to write them down)

Characters

to exhaust; use up

bamboo (slats for writing)

Examples

HSK 7-9

他贪污腐败的罪行罄竹难书。

Tā tānwū fǔbài de zuìxíng qìngzhúnánshū.

His crimes of corruption are too numerous to record.

HSK 7-9

侵略者犯下的暴行罄竹难书。

Qīnlüèzhě fànxià de bàoxíng qìngzhúnánshū.

The atrocities committed by the invaders are beyond counting.

Tips

history

From 《旧唐书·李密传》 (Old Book of Tang, Biography of Li Mi): 罄南山之竹，书罪未穷 - 'exhaust the bamboo of the southern mountains, and his crimes still cannot be fully recorded.' Originally a battle proclamation cataloguing Emperor Yang of Sui's misdeeds.

usage

Strictly negative - only for crimes, sins, or wrongdoing. Don't use it for 'too many good deeds to count' (that would be a famous misuse by a Taiwanese politician in 2006).

Stroke Order

罄 qìng

竹 zhú

难 nán

书 shū