错综复杂cuò zōng fù zátangled and complicated (idiom)

1. 1.

   tangled and complicated (idiom)idiom

Figurative meaning

Tangled and complicated.

• 错interlocking
• 综(bound form) to combine
• 复complex (not simple)
• 杂mixed

No attested origin story

错综复杂 often modifies nouns such as 关系, 情况, or 问题, and can also work as a predicate describing a situation.

1. HSK 4

   这件事的关系错综复杂，一时说不清楚。

   Zhè jiàn shì de guānxì cuò zōng fù zá, yìshí shuō bù qīngchu.

   The relationships in this matter are tangled and complicated; you can't explain them clearly in a moment.

2. HSK 5

   这个项目的问题错综复杂，需要慢慢理清。

   Zhège xiàngmù de wèntí cuò zōng fù zá, xūyào mànmàn lǐqīng.

   The problems in this project are tangled and complicated; you need to sort them out slowly.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   为什么这个案子这么难？

   Wèishénme zhège ànzi zhème nán?

   Why is this case so hard?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   因为里面的关系错综复杂。

   Yīnwèi lǐmiàn de guānxì cuò zōng fù zá.

   Because the relationships inside it are tangled and complicated.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   那我们先画一张图吧。

   Nà wǒmen xiān huà yì zhāng tú ba.

   Then let's draw a chart first.

4. 
   Speaker B:

   对，一步一步理清楚。

   Duì, yí bù yí bù lǐ qīngchu.

   Right, sort it out step by step.

1. 1.What does 错综复杂 mean?

   ATangled and complicatedBOf long standingCTo raise one and infer three
2. 2.Which sentence uses 错综复杂 correctly?

   A他们的关系错综复杂，外人很难看懂。B天气错综复杂地晴了。C他错综复杂地喝了一杯水。
3. 3.Which idiom fits best? 这个故事的人物关系____，要仔细看才能明白。 (The character relationships in this story are tangled and complicated; you have to read carefully to understand.)

   A错综复杂B源远流长C举一反三

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Related idioms

• 一举两得yì jǔ liǎng détwo birds with one stoneHSK 7–9
• 一如既往yì rú jì wǎng(idiom) just as in the past; as before; continuing as alwaysHSK 7–9
• 一目了然yí mù liǎo ránobvious at a glance (idiom)HSK 7–9
• 不可思议bù kě sī yìinconceivable; unimaginable; unfathomableHSK 7–9
• 不知不觉bù zhī bù jué(idiom) unconsciously; unwittinglyHSK 7–9
• 不知所措bù zhī suǒ cuònot knowing what to doHSK 7–9

Browse every entry in the Chinese idioms dictionary.