开门见山(開門見山)
开门见山 (kāi mén jiàn shān) literally means “open door see mountain”and expresses “get straight to point”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom & learning.
Also searched as: kai men jian shan, kai men jian shan,开门见山 meaning, 开门见山 in english
Pronunciation: kāi mén jiàn shān Literal meaning: Open door see mountain
Origin & Usage
This straightforward idiom reflects the architectural wisdom of traditional Chinese design, where opening (开) a door (门) to see (见) mountains (山) represented ideal feng shui. During the Song Dynasty, it evolved from literal description to literary technique, advocating direct communication without preamble. The phrase gained prominence in Ming Dynasty literary criticism, where it praised writers who could immediately engage readers with their main point. Modern usage celebrates directness in communication, particularly in business and professional contexts, though it retains subtle appreciation for the elegance of immediate clarity rather than bluntness.
When to Use
Situation: The consultant directly addressed the core problems in her report
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
得心应手
dé xīn yìng shǒu
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
Learn more →
驾轻就熟
jià qīng jiù shú
Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
Learn more →
轻车熟路
qīng chē shú lù
Be experienced; find something easy due to familiarity
Learn more →
游刃有余
yóu rèn yǒu yú
Handle with ease; have skill to spare
Learn more →
成竹在胸
chéng zhú zài xiōng
Have a well-thought-out plan; be confident
Learn more →
适可而止
shì kě ér zhǐ
Stop at the right point; practice moderation
Learn more →
见好就收
jiàn hǎo jiù shōu
Quit while ahead; take profits
Learn more →
急流勇退
jí liú yǒng tuì
Retire at the peak; know when to quit
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 开门见山 mean in English?
开门见山 (kāi mén jiàn shān) literally translates to “Open door see mountain”and is used to express “Get straight to point”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theWisdom & Learning category..
When is 开门见山 used?
Situation: The consultant directly addressed the core problems in her report
What is the pinyin for 开门见山?
The pinyin pronunciation for 开门见山 is “kāi mén jiàn shān”.