豁然开朗
豁然开朗 (huò rán kāi lǎng) literally means “suddenly opens up bright” and expresses “suddenly see the light; become clear”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: huo ran kai lang, huo ran kai lang,豁然开朗 meaning, 豁然开朗 in english
Suddenly see the light; become clear
Pronunciation: huò rán kāi lǎng Literal meaning: Suddenly opens up bright
Origin & Usage
In Tao Yuanming's account the fisherman leaves his boat and goes in through a small opening in the hillside where a little light shows. It is very narrow at first, barely wide enough for a person; a few dozen paces further and it opens out wide and bright (豁然开朗) onto level ground, ordered houses, good fields, and people living as though the last four dynasties had not happened. The phrase is used of understanding arriving the same way — after a passage narrow enough that you were not sure it went anywhere.
Examples
English: "After his explanation, everything suddenly became clear."
Chinese: 经过他的解释，一切豁然开朗。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
恍然大悟
huǎng rán dà wù
Sudden complete understanding after confusion
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眉开眼笑
méi kāi yǎn xiào
Be all smiles; radiate happiness
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意想不到
yì xiǎng bù dào
Unexpected; unforeseen
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恍如隔世
huǎng rú gé shì
Feeling as if ages have passed
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不知所措
bù zhī suǒ cuò
At a loss; not knowing what to do
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大惊小怪
dà jīng xiǎo guài
Make a fuss about nothing
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触目惊心
chù mù jīng xīn
Shocking; deeply disturbing
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眉飞色舞
méi fēi sè wǔ
Be animated with excitement
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 豁然开朗 mean in English?
豁然开朗 (huò rán kāi lǎng) literally translates to “Suddenly opens up bright” and is used to express “Suddenly see the light; become clear”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 豁然开朗 used?
Situation: After his explanation, everything suddenly became clear.
What is the pinyin for 豁然开朗?
The pinyin pronunciation for 豁然开朗 is “huò rán kāi lǎng”.