当局者迷

Pronunciation: dāng jú zhě mí Literal meaning: Those involved are confused

Origin & Usage

The idiom 当局者迷 (dāng jú zhě mí) originates from a story in the Tang Dynasty, documented in the historical text 《旧唐书》 (Old Book of Tang). It involves Yuan Dan (元澹), a learned scholar, who was involved in revising a Confucian classic. When disagreements arose about which version of the text to use, Yuan Dan argued that those directly involved (当局者) were often confused (迷) by their proximity to the issue, while outsiders could see more clearly. The idiom literally means 'those involved are confused' and is often paired with 旁观者清 (páng guān zhě qīng), meaning 'bystanders see clearly.' In modern usage, it highlights the importance of seeking outside perspectives when making decisions, as those deeply involved might overlook obvious solutions.

Examples

English: "Those in charge often fail to see the bigger picture due to their close involvement."

Chinese: 当局者迷，外人却能看得更清楚。