面面俱到

Pronunciation: miàn miàn jù dào Literal meaning: All aspects considered

Origin & Usage

Every face (面面) reached (俱到). The phrase is genuinely double-edged and learners should hear both sides. Used warmly it praises thoroughness, the plan with no gap in it, the host who has thought of everything. Used coolly it describes work that has covered every requirement and committed to nothing — the report that mentions all considerations and recommends none, the speech that offends no one because it says nothing. Which meaning is active is usually clear from what is being described.

Examples

English: "Her presentation was thorough, addressing every point with clarity and detail."

Chinese: 她的演讲面面俱到，清晰而详细地涵盖了每一个要点。