八字还没一撇儿 bā zì hái méi yī piě r

fig. things have not even begun to take shape

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. things have not even begun to take shape
  2. 2. no sign of success yet
  3. 3. lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八bā (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
八 bā HSK 1
eight; 8
字 zì HSK 1
character; symbol; word
还 hái HSK 2
still; yet; even more
没 méi HSK 1
not; (negative prefix for verbs); have not
一 yī HSK 1
one; 1; single
撇 piě HSK 6
to cast away; to fling aside; to throw
儿 r HSK 1
non-syllabic diminutive suffix; retroflex final; child