HSK · Level 99
45 words
Chinese word
来龙去脉
Pronunciation
Pinyinlái lóng qù mài
Meaning
- nounins and outs
Example
他还没说清楚整个来龙去脉。tā hái méi shuō qīng chǔ zhěng gè lái lóng qù mài
He still hasn't clearly explained all the ins and outs.
More examples
警方正在查清事发的来龙去脉。jǐng fāng zhèng zài chá qīng shì fā de lái lóng qù mài
Police are investigating the ins and outs of the incident.
Core concept
A connected thread that can be followed from a matter's source through its turns to its present outcome.
Common phrases
弄清来龙去脉nòng qīng lái lóng qù mài
clarify the ins and outs
说清来龙去脉shuō qīng lái lóng qù mài
explain the ins and outs
交代来龙去脉jiāo dài lái lóng qù mài
explain the ins and outs
Similar words
前因后果qián yīn hòu guǒ: The link between what causes an event and what happens because of it.
经过jīng guò: The way an event develops and progresses over time.
背景bèi jǐng: The circumstances and setting surrounding an event or person.
详情xiáng qíng: The detailed content and concrete facts of a matter.
Definition in Chinese
指事情从头到尾的前后经过和联系脉络。zhǐ shì qíng cóng tóu dào wěi de qián hòu jīng guò hé lián xì mài luò
Word origin
The dragon and vein in 来龙去脉 (láilóngqùmài, "the course of events") reflect an older feng shui image of a landform's connected ridge and flow, later applied to the unfolding of affairs.
Usage tips
- As a noun, it can describe the background of a current problem as well as events long past, so it is not limited to historical topics.
Other meanings
- historynoun