顺藤摸瓜
顺藤摸瓜 (shùn téng mō guā) literally means “follow vine find melon” and expresses “follow clues to solution”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: shun teng mo gua, shun teng mo gua,顺藤摸瓜 meaning, 顺藤摸瓜 in english
Follow clues to solution
Pronunciation: shùn téng mō guā Literal meaning: Follow vine find melon
Origin & Usage
Following (顺) the vine (藤) to feel out (摸) the melon (瓜) at the end of it. The image is agricultural and exact: the melon lies hidden under leaves, but the vine that grew it is in plain sight and leads there. What the phrase specifies is method — you do not search for the melon, you take hold of the vine and keep going — so it names patience and sequence rather than insight. Police work and audits run on it, where the first small thing found matters only because of what it is attached to.
Examples
English: "The detective traced the evidence methodically to find the truth"
Chinese: 侦探循着线索找到真相
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
融会贯通
róng huì guàn tōng
Integrate many strands into one understanding
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学海无涯
xué hǎi wú yá
Learning is limitless
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知行合一
zhī xíng hé yī
Practice what you know
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举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
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温故知新
wēn gù zhī xīn
Learn new through studying old
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画龙点睛
huà lóng diǎn jīng
Add crucial finishing touch
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读万卷书
dú wàn juàn shū
Read extensively for knowledge
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抛砖引玉
pāo zhuān yǐn yù
Offer modest view to inspire better
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 顺藤摸瓜 mean in English?
顺藤摸瓜 (shùn téng mō guā) literally translates to “Follow vine find melon” and is used to express “Follow clues to solution”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 顺藤摸瓜 used?
Situation: The detective traced the evidence methodically to find the truth
What is the pinyin for 顺藤摸瓜?
The pinyin pronunciation for 顺藤摸瓜 is “shùn téng mō guā”.
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