来龙去脉
来龙去脉 (lái lóng qù mài) literally means “coming dragon and going veins” and expresses “the whole story; causes and effects”. 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: lai long qu mai, lai long qu mai,来龙去脉 meaning, 来龙去脉 in english
The whole story; causes and effects
Pronunciation: lái lóng qù mài
Literal meaning: Coming dragon and going veins
Origin & Usage
This idiom originates from Chinese geomancy (feng shui), where 'dragon' (龙) refers to mountain ranges and 'veins' (脉) to their extensions. Geomancers traced the 'coming dragon' and 'going veins' to understand the landscape's energy flow. The phrase evolved to mean tracing the origins and developments of any matter - its causes, progression, and connections. It emphasizes the importance of understanding context and history. Modern usage describes investigating or explaining the full background and development of a situation or event.
Examples
English: "Before making a decision, we need to understand the full context."
Chinese: 做决定之前，我们需要了解事情的来龙去脉。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 来龙去脉 mean in English?
来龙去脉 (lái lóng qù mài) literally translates to “Coming dragon and going veins” and is used to express “The whole story; causes and effects”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 来龙去脉 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving the whole story; causes and effects.
What is the pinyin for 来龙去脉?
The pinyin pronunciation for 来龙去脉 is “lái lóng qù mài”.