头头是道
头头是道 (tóu tóu shì dào) literally means “every aspect is the way” and expresses “logical and organized”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: tou tou shi dao, tou tou shi dao,头头是道 meaning, 头头是道 in english
Logical and organized
Pronunciation: tóu tóu shì dào Literal meaning: Every aspect is the Way
Origin & Usage
A Chan expression before it was anything else, meaning that the Way (道) is present at every point (头头) — wherever you put your hand down, that is it. Secularised, it describes speech in which every part connects to every other and the whole thing hangs together. The compliment is about structure rather than truth, and that is the catch: Chinese quite often uses 说得头头是道 of someone whose reasoning is beautifully organised and whose conclusion is wrong.
Examples
English: "His arguments were so logical that everyone agreed with him."
Chinese: 他的论点头头是道，大家都赞同。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
回头是岸
huí tóu shì àn
Repent and be saved
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实事求是
shí shì qiú shì
Judge by evidence, not doctrine
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口是心非
kǒu shì xīn fēi
Words differ from thoughts
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自以为是
zì yǐ wéi shì
Self-righteous; opinionated
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各行其是
gè xíng qí shì
Disunity in action
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唯利是图
wéi lì shì tú
Selfish pursuit of gain
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道听途说
dào tīng tú shuō
Unreliable information from casual hearsay
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百尺竿头
bǎi chǐ gān tóu
Already at a very high level of attainment
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 头头是道 mean in English?
头头是道 (tóu tóu shì dào) literally translates to “Every aspect is the Way” and is used to express “Logical and organized”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 头头是道 used?
Situation: His arguments were so logical that everyone agreed with him.
What is the pinyin for 头头是道?
The pinyin pronunciation for 头头是道 is “tóu tóu shì dào”.