盲人摸象
盲人摸象 (máng rén mō xiàng) literally means “blind person touches elephant” and expresses “mistaking partial knowledge for complete wisdom”. 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: mang ren mo xiang, mang ren mo xiang,盲人摸象 meaning, 盲人摸象 in english
Mistaking partial knowledge for complete wisdom
Pronunciation: máng rén mō xiàng
Literal meaning: Blind person touches elephant
Origin & Usage
This profound metaphor shows blind (盲) people (人) touching (摸) an elephant (象), coming from a Buddhist parable that entered China during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, it became central to philosophical discussions about the limitations of individual perspective. The tactile imagery perfectly illustrated how direct but limited experience can create confident but incomplete knowledge. Modern usage particularly applies to complex systems analysis, where experts in narrow domains might mistake their specialized insight for comprehensive understanding.
When to Use
Situation: Each department understood only their aspect of the problem, missing the complete picture
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
得心应手
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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qīng chē shú lù
Be experienced; find something easy due to familiarity
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游刃有余
yóu rèn yǒu yú
Handle with ease; have skill to spare
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成竹在胸
chéng zhú zài xiōng
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 盲人摸象 mean in English?
盲人摸象 (máng rén mō xiàng) literally translates to “Blind person touches elephant” and is used to express “Mistaking partial knowledge for complete wisdom”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 盲人摸象 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving mistaking partial knowledge for complete wisdom.
What is the pinyin for 盲人摸象?
The pinyin pronunciation for 盲人摸象 is “máng rén mō xiàng”.