滴水不漏
滴水不漏 (dī shuǐ bù lòu) literally means “no water drop leaks” and expresses “absolutely flawless and thorough”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: di shui bu lou, di shui bu lou,滴水不漏 meaning, 滴水不漏 in english
Absolutely flawless and thorough
Pronunciation: dī shuǐ bù lòu Literal meaning: No water drop leaks
Origin & Usage
So tightly made that not a drop (滴) of water (水) leaks (漏) through it. Vernacular fiction applies it to speech and to plans rather than to roofs — an account with no gap anywhere in it, a scheme with nothing left uncovered — and water is the test because it will find any opening that exists. Alibis, contracts and answers given under questioning, often with a note of wariness, since an account that tight has usually been prepared in advance.
Examples
English: "The contract was written with precise language that left no room for misinterpretation"
Chinese: 合同用精确的语言撰写，滴水不漏
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
水滴石穿
shuǐ dī shí chuān
Persistence achieves anything
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水到渠成
shuǐ dào qú chéng
Success comes naturally
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如鱼得水
rú yú dé shuǐ
In perfect element
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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明镜止水
míng jìng zhǐ shuǐ
Clear and calm mind
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高山流水
gāo shān liú shuǐ
Perfect artistic understanding between friends
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覆水难收
fù shuǐ nán shōu
Actions cannot be undone
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背水一战
bèi shuǐ yī zhàn
Fight with total commitment having no retreat
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 滴水不漏 mean in English?
滴水不漏 (dī shuǐ bù lòu) literally translates to “No water drop leaks” and is used to express “Absolutely flawless and thorough”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 滴水不漏 used?
Situation: The contract was written with precise language that left no room for misinterpretation
What is the pinyin for 滴水不漏?
The pinyin pronunciation for 滴水不漏 is “dī shuǐ bù lòu”.
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