八字還沒一撇 bā zì hái méi yī piě

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
還 hái
still; yet; even more
沒 méi
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