Basic Info
- Chinese Idiom:
- Pinyin: bā jiǔ bù lí shí
- Literal meaning: “Eight and nine are not far from ten.”
(八 = eight; 九 = nine; 不离 = not separated from / not far from; 十 = ten)
The image is simple: 8 and 9 are very close to 10 – so the result is “pretty close” to the real number.
Figurative Definition
It means that a guess, estimate, or judgment is very close to the truth – roughly 80–90% accurate, or “pretty much right.” It can also mean that something is close to the required standard or level, though not necessarily perfect.
It is used in everyday speech when someone makes an informed guess:
“I don’t know the exact number, but I can guess 八九不离十.”
(“I can’t be exact, but I can get pretty close.”)
In short: more or less right; close enough; nine times out of ten.
Cultural & Historical Origin
“八九不离十” is a modern colloquial idiom, not a classical quotation from ancient texts. It comes from everyday spoken Chinese and reflects a practical, down‑to‑earth habit of approximate judgment.
A commonly cited modern literary example is from Lao She’s (老舍) story Liu Tun’s Wife (《柳屯的》):
“我不敢说是明白他，不过讲猜测的话，我或者能猜个八九不离十。”
“I wouldn’t say I understand him, but if it’s a matter of guessing, I can probably guess pretty close.”
Lao She’s use shows the idiom’s typical tone: modest, informal, and practical – the speaker does not claim certainty, only a close approximation.
Key Lesson
Good judgment does not require perfect information. In real life, we rarely have complete data. The idiom praises practical wisdom: the ability to make a sound estimate based on experience and clues. But it also carries a quiet warning: “八九不离十” is still not “十” – an approximation is useful, but it should not be mistaken for exact certainty.
Cultural Note
In modern Chinese, “八九不离十” is a very common, informal, everyday expression. It appears when people:
- Guess an age, price, score, or outcome – “我猜个八九不离十。”
- Estimate a situation – “事情的经过，我也能猜个八九不离十。”
- Describe something almost up to standard – “他的水平八九不离十了。”
It is closely related to “差不多” (chà bu duō – “more or less / almost”) and “十有八九” (shí yǒu bā jiǔ – “nine out of ten,” meaning very likely). Its tone is relaxed and modest – it is not a formal or literary idiom.
Similar English Expressions
- Pretty close – The most direct everyday equivalent.
- More or less – Approximately; not exact but close.
- Nine times out of ten – Very likely; almost certainly.
- In the ballpark – Approximately correct, especially with numbers.
- Close enough – Near enough to be acceptable.
- Not far off – Almost correct or accurate.
- Roughly right – Approximately correct.
- I can make a good guess – A natural conversational equivalent.
The closest and most natural equivalents are “pretty close,” “more or less,” and “in the ballpark.”
In short, “八九不离十” means eight and nine are not far from ten – a practical, informal idiom for a guess or estimate that is very close to the truth, and a reminder that good judgment often gets you near the answer even without perfect information.
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