丈二和尚摸不著頭腦

Chinese

		zhang (unit of measurement)	two	preceptor; high priest; head monk preceptor; high priest; head monk; any Buddhist monk	cannot touch one's head; to be unable make head or tail of something
trad. (丈二和尚摸不著頭腦/丈二和尚摸不着頭腦)		丈	二	和尚	摸不著頭腦/摸不着頭腦
simp. (丈二和尚摸不着头脑)		丈	二	和尚	摸不着头脑
Literally: “a 1.2 zhang-tall Buddhist monk - cannot touch his head”.

Alternative forms

• 丈八金剛摸不著頭腦／丈八金刚摸不着头脑 (zhàng bā jīngāng mō bù zháo tóunǎo)
• 丈二金剛摸不著頭腦／丈二金刚摸不着头脑

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): zhàng èr héshàng mō bù zháo tóunǎo

  (Zhuyin): ㄓㄤˋ ㄦˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄇㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄋㄠˇ

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: zhàng èr héshàng mō bù zháo tóunǎo
    • Zhuyin: ㄓㄤˋ ㄦˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄇㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄋㄠˇ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jhàng èr héshàng mo bù jháo tóunǎo
    • Wade–Giles: chang⁴ êrh⁴ ho²-shang⁴ mo¹ pu⁴ chao² tʻou²-nao³
    • Yale: jàng èr hé-shàng mwō bù jáu tóu-nǎu
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: janq ell hershanq mho bu jaur tournao
    • Palladius: чжан эр хэшан мо бу чжао тоунао (čžan er xɛšan mo bu čžao tounao)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Idiom

丈二和尚摸不著頭腦

1. to be unable make head or tail of something; to have no clue; to be confused