Meaning
This four-character expression describes something that lacks clarity or definition. It can refer to physical blurriness (like a photo or vision), unclear ideas or concepts, or ambiguous situations. The phrase combines 模糊 (vague/blurry) with 不清 (not clear) for emphatic effect.
Usage
Commonly used to describe visual images, sounds, memories, explanations, or boundaries that are indistinct. Often appears in both spoken and written contexts. Can describe both concrete things (blurry photos) and abstract concepts (unclear thinking). Slightly more formal than just using 模糊 alone.
Examples
- 01这张老照片已经模糊不清了。.This old photo has already become blurry.
- 02他的解释模糊不清，我还是不明白。, .His explanation was unclear; I still don't understand.
Characters
Common collocations
- 变得模糊不清to become unclear
- 看得模糊不清to see unclearly
- 说得模糊不清to speak unclearly
Antonyms
Origin
模糊 originally referred to something covered or pasted over (like with paste), making it indistinct. Combined with 不清 (not clear), it creates an emphatic four-character structure common in Chinese idioms.