Chinese word

一针见血

Pronunciation

Pinyinyī zhēn jiàn xiě

Meaning

  • idiomhit the nail on the head

Example

你说得一针见血，正是我想说的。nǐ shuō de yì zhēn jiàn xiě zhèng shì wǒ xiǎng shuō de

What you said hit the nail on the head, and that is exactly what I wanted to say.

Illustration for 一针见血 (hit the nail on the head)

More examples

开会时，他一句一针见血的话，让讨论更有方向。kāi huì shí tā yí jù yì zhēn jiàn xiě de huà ràng tǎo lùn gèng yǒu fāng xiàng

At the meeting, his incisive remark gave the discussion more direction.

Core concept

A precise remark pierces straight to the central point and makes the issue clear at once.

Common phrases

  • 说得一针见血shuō de yì zhēn jiàn xiě

    speak incisively

  • 一针见血的话yì zhēn jiàn xiě de huà

    incisive remark

Similar words

切中要害qiè zhòng yào hài: Precisely focusing on the crucial part of a matter.
一语道破yì yǔ dào pò: Putting the underlying truth or problem into clear, brief words.
直截了当zhí jié liǎo dàng: Stating something plainly and directly, with no roundabout phrasing.
言简意赅yán jiǎn yì gāi: Expressing the content compactly in a small number of words.

Definition in Chinese

用简短的话指出事情的关键，使人立刻明白问题所在。yòng jián duǎn de huà zhǐ chū shì qíng de guān jiàn shǐ rén lì kè míng bái wèn tí suǒ zài

Word origin

一 (yī, "one") + 针 (zhēn, "needle") + 见 (jiàn, "see") + 血 (xiě, "blood") describes a needle piercing deeply enough to draw blood, a vivid image for words that reach the core immediately.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this is usually praise for a comment or analysis, though its directness can sound sharp in a sensitive conversation.

Other meanings

  • get to the heart of the matteridiom
  • hit the markidiom

Opposites

  • 拐弯抹角guǎi wān mò jiǎobeat around the bushidiom

Word lists with this word