本来面目 běn lái miàn mù true nature

Explanation

本来面目指的是事物或人的本来面目，指的是隐藏在表象下的真实面目，多指隐藏在表象下的真实面目。

The original appearance or true nature of a thing or person; often used figuratively to refer to the true nature hidden behind a facade.

Origin Story

很久以前，在一个偏僻的山村里，住着一位年迈的禅师。他深谙佛法，经常闭关静修，参悟人生真谛。一天，一位年轻的弟子来到禅师身边，向他请教如何才能看清事物的本来面目。禅师微微一笑，说道：“孩子，你静下心来，放下执念，才能看清你自己的本来面目，才能看清世间万物的本来面目。所谓本来面目，并非指外在的形象，而是指事物内在的本质和规律。要看清它，需要智慧和觉悟。”弟子似懂非懂，禅师便带他来到山间，指着眼前的一棵古树说道：“这棵树，你看到的是它的枝繁叶茂，树干粗壮，这只是它表面的样子，而它的本来面目，是它生生不息的生命力，是它默默生长，经历风雨的历程。世间万物皆如此，要透过表象，才能看到它们的本来面目。

hěn jiǔ yǐ qián, zài yīgè piānpì de shāncūn lǐ, zhù zhe yī wèi niánmài de chánshī. tā shēn'ān fó fǎ, jīng cháng bìguān jìngxiū, cānwù rénshēng zhēndì. yī tiān, yī wèi niánqīng de dìzǐ lái dào chánshī shēnbiān, xiàng tā qǐngjiào rúhé cáinéng kàn qīng shìwù de běnlái miànmù. chánshī wēi wēi yī xiào, shuōdào: ‘háizi, nǐ jìng xià xīn lái, fàng xià zhí niàn, cáinéng kàn qīng nǐ zìjǐ de běnlái miànmù, cáinéng kàn qīng shìjiān wànwù de běnlái miànmù. suǒwèi běnlái miànmù, bìng fēi zhǐ wàizài de xíngxiàng, ér shì zhǐ shìwù nèizài de běnzhì hé guīlǜ. yào kàn qīng tā, xūyào zhìhuì hé juéwù.’ dìzǐ sì dǒng fēi dǒng, chánshī biàn dài tā lái dào shān jiān, zhǐ zhe yǎn qián de yī kē gǔ shù shuōdào: ‘zhè kē shù, nǐ kàn dào de shì tā de zhīfán yè mào, shù gàn cū zhuàng, zhè zhǐshì tā biǎomiàn de yàngzi, ér tā de běnlái miànmù, shì tā shēngshēng bù xī de shēngmìng lì, shì tā mòmò shēngzhǎng, jīnglì fēngyǔ de lìchéng. shìjiān wànwù jiē rúcǐ, yào tōuguò biǎoxiàng, cáinéng kàn dào tāmen de běnlái miànmù.

Long ago, in a secluded mountain village, lived an elderly Zen master. He was well-versed in Buddhism and often practiced meditation in seclusion, contemplating the true meaning of life. One day, a young disciple came to the master and asked him how to see the true nature of things. The master smiled slightly and said, “Child, calm your mind, let go of your attachments, and then you can see your own true nature, and then you can see the true nature of all things in the world. The true nature does not refer to the outward appearance, but rather to the inner essence and laws of things. To see it requires wisdom and enlightenment.” The disciple seemed to understand and not understand, so the master took him to the mountains and pointed to an ancient tree in front of him: “This tree, what you see is its lush branches and leaves, its thick trunk, this is only its superficial appearance, while its true face is its incessant vitality, its silent growth, and its experiences of wind and rain. Everything in the world is like this. You have to look beyond the surface to see their true nature.

Usage

用于比喻事物或人的本来面目，指的是隐藏在表象下的真实面目。

yòng yú bǐyù shìwù huò rén de běnlái miànmù, zhǐ de shì yǐncáng zài biǎoxiàng xià de zhēnshí miànmù

Used to describe the true nature of things or people hidden behind a facade.

Examples

• 他终于看到了事件的本来面目。

  tā zhōngyú kàn dào le shìjiàn de běnlái miànmù

  He finally saw the true face of the incident.

• 让我们揭开这幅画的本来面目吧！

  ràng wǒmen jiēkāi zhè fú huà de běnlái miànmù ba

  Let's unveil the true face of this painting!

Related Idioms

• 庐山真面目

• 真相大白

Opposite Idioms

• 伪装

• 欺骗