不打自招
bù dǎ zì zhāo
Involuntary confession
Someone reveals their guilt or a secret without any pressure or interrogation. This happens when a person inadvertently exposes their own wrongdoing or involvement.
What does 不打自招 (bù dǎ zì zhāo) mean?
不打自招 (bù dǎ zì zhāo) means "involuntary confession" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "not hit self confess."
Character by character
- 不 bù not, no
- 打 dǎ hit, beat, interrogate
- 自 zì self, oneself
- 招 zhāo confess, admit
When to use it
Often used when someone accidentally lets slip information that incriminates them or reveals a secret they intended to keep. It applies to situations where a person's words or actions unintentionally expose their true intentions or a hidden truth.
Example
他无意中说漏了嘴,这真是不打自招。
Tā wúyì zhōng shuō lòu le zuǐ, zhè zhēnshì bù dǎ zì zhāo.
He accidentally let something slip, which was truly a case of giving himself away.
Pro tip: The idiom implies an unintentional revelation, often due to carelessness or a slip of the tongue, rather than a deliberate confession.
Related idioms
半信半疑 · State of doubt变本加厉 · Intensifying negative behavior不约而同 · Unplanned simultaneous action
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