明察秋毫
明察秋毫 (míng chá qiū háo) literally means “see autumn down clear” and expresses “perceive tiny details”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: ming cha qiu hao, ming cha qiu hao,明察秋毫 meaning, 明察秋毫 in english
Perceive tiny details
Pronunciation: míng chá qiū háo Literal meaning: See autumn down clear
Origin & Usage
This descends from the Mencius, where a man claims sight clear (明) enough to make out (察) the tip of an autumn (秋) hair (毫) — the fine down animals grow as the year turns, proverbially the smallest visible thing — yet cannot see a cartload of firewood. Mencius uses it to expose selective attention rather than to praise sharp eyes. Later Chinese lost the sting and now uses it as straightforward praise for perception fine enough to catch what everyone else missed.
Examples
English: "The detective noticed subtle inconsistencies others missed"
Chinese: 侦探注意到了别人忽略的细微矛盾
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
明枪易躲
míng qiāng yì duǒ
Open threats easier than hidden
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明镜止水
míng jìng zhǐ shuǐ
Clear and calm mind
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明哲保身
míng zhé bǎo shēn
Protect oneself from danger wisely
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一叶知秋
yī yè zhī qiū
Small signs show big picture
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秋毫无犯
qiū háo wú fàn
Show strict discipline; not take anything
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自作聪明
zì zuò cōng míng
Too clever for one's own good
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察言观色
chá yán guān sè
Read between lines
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毫无疑问
háo wú yí wèn
Absolutely certain without any doubt
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 明察秋毫 mean in English?
明察秋毫 (míng chá qiū háo) literally translates to “See autumn down clear” and is used to express “Perceive tiny details”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 明察秋毫 used?
Situation: The detective noticed subtle inconsistencies others missed
What is the pinyin for 明察秋毫?
The pinyin pronunciation for 明察秋毫 is “míng chá qiū háo”.
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