恍然大悟
恍然大悟 (huǎng rán dà wù) literally means “suddenly great awakening” and expresses “sudden complete understanding after confusion”. 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: huang ran da wu, huang ran da wu,恍然大悟 meaning, 恍然大悟 in english
Sudden complete understanding after confusion
Pronunciation: huǎng rán dà wù Literal meaning: Suddenly great awakening
Origin & Usage
Buddhist meditation traditions gave us this description of sudden clarity (恍然) leading to great awakening (大悟). Unlike gradual enlightenment, this represented those electric moments of instant comprehension. Tang Dynasty writers adopted it for any profound realization after confusion. Today it captures those 'eureka' moments when previously incomprehensible patterns suddenly snap into perfect clarity.
When to Use
Situation: After struggling with the problem for days, the solution suddenly became clear
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Related Chinese Idioms
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dé xīn yìng shǒu
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
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驾轻就熟
jià qīng jiù shú
Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
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Be experienced; find something easy due to familiarity
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yóu rèn yǒu yú
Handle with ease; have skill to spare
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Have a well-thought-out plan; be confident
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恰如其分
qià rú qí fèn
Perfectly appropriate; fitting exactly
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恰到好处
qià dào hǎo chù
Just right; perfectly appropriate
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适可而止
shì kě ér zhǐ
Stop at the right point; practice moderation
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 恍然大悟 mean in English?
恍然大悟 (huǎng rán dà wù) literally translates to “Suddenly great awakening” and is used to express “Sudden complete understanding after confusion”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 恍然大悟 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving sudden complete understanding after confusion.
What is the pinyin for 恍然大悟?
The pinyin pronunciation for 恍然大悟 is “huǎng rán dà wù”.