蒙在鼓里

méng zài gǔ lǐ

  • Meaning

    Literal

    Stuck inside a drum

    Usage

    To have others conceal the truth about things happening in one's life; to not be in the know

  • Connotation

    Neutral

  • Usage Examples

    关于他的计划我完全蒙在鼓里 | Guānyú tā de jìhuà wǒ wánquán méngzàigǔlǐ
    I'm completely in the dark regarding his plans
    [Source]

    妻子出轨近半年,丈夫一直蒙在鼓里,直到妻子脖子上的一个吻痕导致东窗事发 | Qīzi chūguǐ jìn bànnián, zhàngfū yīzhí méngzàigǔlǐ, zhídào qīzi bózi shàng de yīgè wěnhén dǎozhì dōngchuāngshìfā
    He was completely in the dark about the fact that his wife had been unfaithful for over half a year. Then, the truth was exposed when he discovered the hickey on her neck
    [Source]

  • Equivalents

    English

    To be in the dark; to be kept in the dark

    Chinese

    None

  • Entry Notes

    None

  • Origin

    《瞎骗奇闻》(Shā Piàn Qí Wén) by 吴趼人 (Wú Jiǎn Rén), a novelist from the Qīng Dynasty (清, 1644 - 1911)

  • Story

    This chengyu is from a line in the work listed in the "Origin" section above

  • Citations and Helpful Resources

    • 汉语成语小词典 (hànyǔ chéngyǔ xiǎo cídiǎn)
    • 现代汉语规范词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ guīfàn cídiǎn)
    • 多功能成语词典 (duō gōngnéng chéngyǔ cídiǎn)
    • 汉语大词典 (hànyǔ dà cídiǎn)
    • ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary
    • Pleco Basic Chinese-English Dictionary
    • 百度百科[x]