Chinese Conversation · Level 82
61 words
Chinese word
走马观花
Pronunciation
Pinyinzǒu mǎ guān huā
Meaning
- idiomlook superficially
Example
别只走马观花，要仔细看。bié zhǐ zóu mǎ guān huā yào zǐ xì kàn
Don't just look superficially; look carefully.
More examples
看展览时别只走马观花，那样看不出作品的特点。kàn zhán lǎn shí bié zhǐ zóu mǎ guān huā nà yàng kàn bù chū zuò pǐn de tè diǎn
When viewing an exhibition, don't just look superficially, or you won't see the works' distinctive features.
Core concept
Moving quickly from one part to the next, gaining a broad impression without stopping to examine anything closely.
Common phrases
别只走马观花bié zhǐ zóu mǎ guān huā
don't just look superficially
Similar words
蜻蜓点水qīng tíng dián shuǐ: Touching on a subject lightly without taking time to understand it deeply.
浅尝辄止qiǎn cháng zhé zhǐ: Making a short attempt at something and stopping before going further.
Definition in Chinese
匆忙中看事物，只得到大致印象而不注意细节。cōng máng zhōng kàn shì wù zhǐ dé dào dà zhì yìn xiàng ér bú zhù yì xì jié
Word origin
走马观花 (zǒumǎguānhuā, "viewing flowers on horseback") joins the motion of a horse with the brief sight of flowers along the way, creating a lasting image of observation that is too quick for detail.
Usage tips
- For English speakers, skim often describes reading quickly for the main points and can be neutral, while this idiom usually suggests that the quick look is inadequate.
Other meanings
- skimidiom