熟视无睹
熟视无睹 (shú shì wú dǔ) literally means “look but not see” and expresses “indifference to the familiar”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: shu shi wu du, shu shi wu du,熟视无睹 meaning, 熟视无睹 in english
Indifference to the familiar
Pronunciation: shú shì wú dǔ Literal meaning: Look but not see
Origin & Usage
The idiom 熟视无睹 (shú shì wú dǔ) is commonly used in classical Chinese literature to describe a situation where someone looks at something familiar without truly seeing it, indicating indifference or neglect. This expression first appeared in the Jin dynasty, in Liu Ling's work 《酒德颂》, where it was used to illustrate how one might become so accustomed to certain sights that they no longer notice them. The characters break down as follows: 熟 (shú) means 'familiar,' 视 (shì) means 'to look,' 无 (wú) means 'without,' and 睹 (dǔ) means 'to see.' In modern usage, this idiom often describes a lack of concern for common issues or suffering, highlighting a tendency to overlook what is right in front of us.
Examples
English: "After years of living in the same neighborhood, he failed to notice the changes around him."
Chinese: 在同一个社区生活多年后，他没有注意到周围的变化。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 熟视无睹 mean in English?
熟视无睹 (shú shì wú dǔ) literally translates to “Look but not see” and is used to express “Indifference to the familiar”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 熟视无睹 used?
Situation: After years of living in the same neighborhood, he failed to notice the changes around him.
What is the pinyin for 熟视无睹?
The pinyin pronunciation for 熟视无睹 is “shú shì wú dǔ”.