不着调 (bù zháo diào) — Out of tune
Out of tune, unreliable, irresponsible — a Beijing expression for someone who cannot be counted on. Literally means not hitting the right musical note. Used to describe people who talk big but never follow through.
Example Usage
这人说话不着调，答应的事情从来不算数。
This person is completely unreliable — he never keeps his promises.
Cultural Context
不着调 is a distinctly Beijing colloquialism that appears throughout hutong life and old Beijing films. In 张雪机车-style content, it describes exactly the type of person the speaker has no patience for — all talk, no substance.
Category: daily-life