一叶障目

Pronunciation: yī yè zhàng mù
Literal meaning: Leaf blocks eye

Origin & Usage

This idiom illustrates how a single (一) leaf (叶) can block (障) one's vision/eyes (目). Emerging from Buddhist texts warning against limited perspective, it gained prominence during the Song Dynasty's Neo-Confucian movement. The deceptively simple image of a leaf blocking an entire view became a powerful metaphor for how minor distractions can prevent broader understanding. In contemporary contexts, it critiques tunnel vision in decision-making, from business strategy to political analysis, reminding us that fixation on small details can obscure the larger picture.

Examples

English: "The team got lost in technical details and forgot the project's main goal"

Chinese: 团队陷入技术细节而忘记了项目的主要目标

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