对症下药
对症下药 (duì zhèng xià yào) literally means “apply medicine to symptoms” and expresses “targeted solutions”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: dui zheng xia yao, dui zheng xia yao,对症下药 meaning, 对症下药 in english
Targeted solutions
Pronunciation: duì zhèng xià yào Literal meaning: Apply medicine to symptoms
Origin & Usage
This insightful idiom originates from the story of the renowned physician Hua Tuo (华佗) during the late Eastern Han dynasty. In a time of widespread illness, Hua Tuo was known for his exceptional medical skills. The story tells of two officials, Ni Xun (倪寻) and Li Yan (李延), who both suffered from similar symptoms of headache and fever. However, Hua Tuo prescribed different treatments for each, explaining that Ni Xun's condition was due to dietary issues (requiring purgatives), while Li Yan's was due to cold exposure (requiring sweating). This idiom (对症下药) literally means 'apply medicine according to the symptoms,' emphasizing the importance of tailoring solutions to specific problems. In modern usage, it suggests taking targeted actions based on careful diagnosis of a situation.
Examples
English: "To solve the problem effectively, we need to address the root cause."
Chinese: 要有效解决问题，我们需要对症下药。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 对症下药 mean in English?
对症下药 (duì zhèng xià yào) literally translates to “Apply medicine to symptoms” and is used to express “Targeted solutions”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 对症下药 used?
Situation: To solve the problem effectively, we need to address the root cause.
What is the pinyin for 对症下药?
The pinyin pronunciation for 对症下药 is “duì zhèng xià yào”.