不假思索 (bù jiǎ sī suǒ)

Character breakdown

• 不 (bù) · 4 strokes

  Pictograph of sepals of a flower. The modern meaning "no" is a phonetic loan.

• 假 (gēi) · 11 strokes

  Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 叚 represents the sound.

• 思 (sī) · 9 strokes

  Thought is associated with the head (囟) and heart (心). 囟 is also a phonetic component.

• 索 (Suǒ) · 10 strokes

  Pictograph of two hands (廾) twisting together a long rope (糸). The meaning later expanded to "search" and "demand".

Usage

老师提问时，他不假思索地回答了问题。

(idiom) to act without taking time to think; to react instantly; to fire from the hip

lǎo shī tí wèn shí ， tā bù jiǎ sī suǒ dì huí dá le wèn tí 。