目无全牛(目無全牛)
目无全牛 (mù wú quán niú) literally means “eyes see no whole ox”and expresses “achieve instinctive mastery”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving success & perseverance.
Also searched as: mu wu quan niu, mu wu quan niu,目无全牛 meaning, 目无全牛 in english
Pronunciation: mù wú quán niú Literal meaning: Eyes see no whole ox
Origin & Usage
This idiom comes from the Zhuangzi's famous story of butcher Ding, whose eyes (目) no longer saw (无) the whole (全) ox (牛) but rather the spaces between its joints. After years of practice, his knife moved effortlessly through these spaces, never touching bone or tendon. The story illustrates how deep expertise transforms perception - the master sees not the surface appearance but the underlying structure. While originally about craftsmanship, it evolved to describe any profound understanding that transcends surface appearance. Modern usage spans fields from scientific research to artistic mastery, where experts 'see' patterns invisible to others.
When to Use
Situation: After decades of practice, the chef could create masterpieces without recipes
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
匠心独运
jiàng xīn dú yùn
Apply creative genius; show ingenuity
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独具匠心
dú jù jiàng xīn
Show great ingenuity; have original design
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别具一格
bié jù yī gé
Have unique style; be distinctive
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独树一帜
dú shù yī zhì
Be unique; have distinctive style
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独占鳌头
dú zhàn áo tóu
Come first; win top honors
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出神入化
chū shén rù huà
Reach supernatural skill level
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功成名就
gōng chéng míng jiù
Achieve success and fame
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名利双收
míng lì shuāng shōu
Gain both fame and fortune
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 目无全牛 mean in English?
目无全牛 (mù wú quán niú) literally translates to “Eyes see no whole ox”and is used to express “Achieve instinctive mastery”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theSuccess & Perseverance category..
When is 目无全牛 used?
Situation: After decades of practice, the chef could create masterpieces without recipes
What is the pinyin for 目无全牛?
The pinyin pronunciation for 目无全牛 is “mù wú quán niú”.