顺藤摸瓜
顺藤摸瓜 (shùn téng mō guā) literally means “follow vine find melon” and expresses “follow clues to solution”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: shun teng mo gua, shun teng mo gua,顺藤摸瓜 meaning, 顺藤摸瓜 in english
Follow clues to solution
Pronunciation: shùn téng mō guā
Literal meaning: Follow vine find melon
Origin & Usage
Rooted in agricultural wisdom, this idiom describes following (顺) a vine (藤) to find (摸) its melons (瓜). It gained prominence in Song Dynasty detective stories and practical farming guides, where understanding plant patterns helped locate harvest-ready melons hidden under foliage. The metaphor captured the essence of methodical investigation - following visible trails to discover hidden connections. Modern usage spans various fields, from criminal investigations to market research, describing any process where careful tracking of evident clues leads to concealed answers.
Examples
English: "The detective traced the evidence methodically to find the truth"
Chinese: 侦探循着线索找到真相
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 顺藤摸瓜 mean in English?
顺藤摸瓜 (shùn téng mō guā) literally translates to “Follow vine find melon” and is used to express “Follow clues to solution”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 顺藤摸瓜 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving follow clues to solution.
What is the pinyin for 顺藤摸瓜?
The pinyin pronunciation for 顺藤摸瓜 is “shùn téng mō guā”.