茅塞顿开 máo sè dùn kāi sudden enlightenment

Explanation

形容思想忽然开窍,立刻明白了某个道理。比喻心里好像有茅草堵塞着,现在忽然被打开了。

Describes the sudden understanding of a problem. It means that the mind was originally blocked as if by weeds, but is now suddenly opened.

Origin Story

从前,有个年轻的书生,苦读十年寒窗,却始终不得要领,屡试不第。一日,他漫步山间,偶然遇到一位鹤发童颜的老者,老者见他愁眉苦脸,便问明缘由。书生将自己的困境说了出来,老者捋须微笑,说道:‘读书贵在融会贯通,切莫死读书。’老者随后用浅显易懂的例子,将他多年困惑的问题一一解答,书生顿感茅塞顿开,如醍醐灌顶。他恍然大悟,原来自己一直被条条框框所束缚,拘泥于字句,忽略了书中真意。下山后,书生勤奋好学,融会贯通,终于金榜题名,实现了自己的梦想。

cóng qián, yǒu gè nián qīng de shū shēng, kǔ dú shí nián hán chuāng, què shǐ zhōng bù dé yào lǐng, lǚ shì bù dì. yī rì, tā màn bù shān jiān, ǒu rán yù dào yī wèi hè fà tóng yán de lǎo zhě, lǎo zhě jiàn tā chóu méi kǔ liǎn, biàn wèn míng yuányóu. shū shēng jiāng zìjǐ de kùnjì shuō le chū lái, lǎo zhě lǚ xū wēi xiào, shǎo dào: ‘dú shū guì zài róng huì guàn tōng, qiē mò sǐ dú shū.’ lǎo zhě suí hòu yòng qiǎn xiǎn yì dǒng de lìzi, jiāng tā duō nián kùnhuò de wèntí yī yī jiědá, shū shēng dùn gǎn máo sè dùn kāi, rú tí hú guàn dǐng. tā huǎng rán dà wù, yuán lái zìjǐ yī zhí bèi tiáo tiáo kuàng kuàng suǒ shùfù, jū ní yú zì jù, huò lüè le shū zhōng zhēn yì. xià shān hòu, shū shēng qín fèn hào xué, róng huì guàn tōng, zhōng yú jīn bǎng tí míng, shíxiàn le zìjǐ de mèng xiǎng.

Once upon a time, a young scholar studied hard for ten years, but still couldn't understand the essence of knowledge and repeatedly failed in the imperial examinations. One day, he was strolling in the mountains when he unexpectedly met an old man with white hair and a youthful face. The old man noticed his worried expression and asked him about the reason. The scholar explained his difficulties, and the old man stroked his beard, smiled, and said, “Learning should focus on grasping the core principles, not memorizing blindly.” Then he used simple examples to clarify the problems that had troubled the scholar for many years. The scholar felt enlightened, as if scales had fallen from his eyes. He suddenly realized he'd been constrained by rigid rules, sticking to the words and missing the true meaning. After returning to the plains, the scholar studied diligently and integrated his learning. Finally, he achieved success and fulfilled his dreams.

Usage

多用于书面语,形容人豁然开朗,茅塞顿开。

duō yòng yú shūmiàn yǔ, xiángróng rén huòrán kāilǎng, máosè dùn kāi

Mostly used in written language, describing someone who suddenly understands something.

Examples

  • 经过老师的指点,我茅塞顿开,终于明白了这道题的解法。

    jīngguò lǎoshī de zhǐdiǎn, wǒ máosè dùn kāi, zhōngyú míngbái le zhè dào tí de jiěfǎ.

    After the teacher's explanation, I suddenly understood how to solve the problem.

  • 听了专家的讲解,我对这个问题茅塞顿开,豁然开朗。

    tīngle zhuānjiā de jiǎngjiě, wǒ duì zhège wèntí máosè dùn kāi, huòrán kāilǎng

    After listening to the expert's explanation, I suddenly understood this problem, it was like scales falling from my eyes