Chinese word

开门见山

Pronunciation

Pinyinkāi mén jiàn shān

Meaning

  • idiomget straight to the point

Example

他一见面就开门见山，直说要加薪。tā yí jiàn miàn jiù kāi mén jiàn shān zhí shuō yào jiā xīn

As soon as they met, he got straight to the point and said he wanted a raise.

Illustration for 开门见山 (get straight to the point)

More examples

和客户交流时，他习惯开门见山，不拖泥带水。hé kè hù jiāo liú shí tā xí guàn kāi mén jiàn shān bù tuō ní dài shuǐ

When he talks with clients, he gets straight to the point and does not beat around the bush.

Core concept

The speaker clears away the usual lead-in and puts the important matter in view at the very start.

Common phrases

  • 开门见山的态度kāi mén jiàn shān de tài dù

    a straightforward attitude

  • 开门见山地问kāi mén jiàn shān dì wèn

    ask directly

  • 开门见山地谈kāi mén jiàn shān dì tán

    talk directly

Similar words

直截了当zhí jié liǎo dàng: Expressing an important point in a clear, direct way without extra introduction.
直言不讳zhí yán bú huì: Saying genuine thoughts or opinions frankly and without holding back.
不拐弯抹角bù guǎi wān mò jiǎo: Expressing a message directly instead of using roundabout language.
开宗明义kāi zōng míng yì: Making the purpose or central subject clear at the beginning of a speech or text.

Definition in Chinese

说话或写文章时从一开始就直说要点或请求，常表示说话者态度直接、言语简短。shuō huà huò xiě wén zhāng shí cóng yì kāi shǐ jiù zhí shuō yào diǎn huò qǐng qiú cháng biǎo shì shuō huà zhě tài dù zhí jiē yán yǔ jián duǎn

Word origin

开门见山 (kāiménjiànshān, "to open the door and see the mountain") uses the sudden sight of a mountain beyond an opened door as a metaphor for presenting the main matter without detours.

Usage tips

  • The idiom applies to writing as well as speech, so a direct opening in an email, report, or conversation can fit it.

Other meanings

  • speak bluntlyidiom
  • speak franklyidiom

Opposites

  • 旁敲侧击páng qiāo cè jībeat around the bushidiom

Word lists with this word