Basic Info
- Chinese Idiom: 八竿子打不着 (Bā gān zi dǎ bù zháo)
- Pinyin: bā gān zi dǎ bù zháo
- Literal meaning: “Not even eight poles could reach it.”
(八 = eight; 竿子 = poles / rods; 打 = to hit / reach; 不着 = cannot reach / cannot touch)
The image is of trying to reach something with a long pole – but even with eight poles tied together, you still cannot touch it. It is simply too far away.
Figurative Definition
It describes two people, things, or events that are extremely far apart in relationship or relevance – so distant that there is no real connection between them at all. It is used to dismiss a claimed connection as absurd or far-fetched:
“What does that have to do with anything? They’re 八竿子打不着!”
It can describe:
- People with no meaningful relationship – distant relatives, strangers, or unrelated parties.
- Ideas or events with no logical connection – a claim that links two unrelated things.
- An irrelevant argument – bringing up something completely off-topic.
In short: so far apart that no connection exists – not even close.
Cultural & Historical Origin
Unlike most classical idioms, “八竿子打不着” is a modern colloquial expression, not a quotation from ancient texts. It emerged in contemporary spoken Chinese and became popular because the image is vivid and immediately understandable.
The reference source is Mu Guozheng’s (母国政) story Flying Snow (《飘飞的大雪》):
“现在有些人，千方百计地寻找在国外八竿子打不着的亲友，想方设法要出去。”
“Nowadays some people go to great lengths to find relatives abroad – relatives so distant that not even eight poles could reach them – and try every possible way to get out.”
The phrase captures a very modern phenomenon: people stretching tenuous connections – a distant cousin, a friend of a friend, a name heard once – to claim a relationship that does not meaningfully exist. The image of “eight poles” exaggerates the distance for comic effect: you could reach with the longest pole imaginable, and still not touch them.
Key Lesson
Not every claimed connection is a real one. The idiom teaches clear thinking about relationships and relevance: just because two things are mentioned together does not mean they are meaningfully linked. It warns against false associations, name-dropping, and far-fetched arguments. At the same time, it carries a light, humorous tone – it is usually said with a smile or a shrug, not with anger.
Cultural Note
In modern Chinese, “八竿子打不着” is a very common, informal, and colloquial idiom. It appears in:
- Everyday conversation – dismissing an irrelevant point: “这八竿子打不着的事，你提它干嘛？” (“Why bring up something so unrelated?”)
- Social commentary – mocking people who claim distant connections for personal gain.
- Online discussions – pointing out when someone links two unrelated topics.
- Humorous exaggeration – describing someone who is “not even remotely related” to a situation.
It is closely related to “风马牛不相及” (fēng mǎ niú bù xiāng jí – “horses and oxen do not mate,” meaning things are completely unrelated) and “漠不相关” (mò bù xiāng guān – “completely unrelated”). Its opposites are “亲密无间” (qīn mì wú jiàn – “intimately close, without any gap”) and “息息相关” (xī xī xiāng guān – “closely linked, breath to breath”).
The idiom is a modern, down-to-earth cousin of the classical idioms – proof that the Chinese language continues to create vivid expressions from everyday life.
Similar English Expressions
- Not remotely related – The most direct and natural equivalent.
- Not even close – Dismissing a connection as absurdly distant.
- A world apart – Extremely far in relationship or relevance.
- No connection whatsoever – A direct descriptive phrase.
- Apples and oranges – Two things that cannot be meaningfully compared.
- Like comparing chalk and cheese – British idiom for completely different things.
- Six degrees of separation – The opposite idea – everything is connected through a chain (used as a contrast).
- A stretch – A claim or connection that is hard to believe (informal).
The closest and most natural equivalents are “not remotely related,” “not even close,” and “a world apart.”
In short, “八竿子打不着” means not even eight poles could reach it – a vivid, humorous modern idiom for things that are completely unrelated, and a gentle reminder to check whether a claimed connection is real or just wishful thinking.
Leave a Reply