了如指掌 (liǎo rú zhǐ zhǎng) — to know something like the back of one's hand; to be thoroughly familiar with

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'to know something as clearly as the palm of your own hand' — total, effortless familiarity with a subject. More emphatic and literary than simply saying 你很了解.

idiom
to know something like the back of one's handto be thoroughly familiar with

Examples

  • 了如指掌
    Tā duì zhè zuò chéng shì de lì shǐ liǎo rú zhǐ zhǎng.
    He knows the history of this city like the back of his hand.
  • 了如指掌
    Wǒ suī rán méi qù guò nà lǐ, dàn duì dāng dì de fēng sú yě liǎo rú zhǐ zhǎng.
    Even though I've never been there, I'm thoroughly familiar with the local customs.
  • 了如指掌
    Tā zài gōng sī gān le èr shí nián, duì gōng sī yè wù liǎo rú zhǐ zhǎng.
    He has worked at the company for 20 years and knows its business like the palm of his hand.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

了 was once drawn to show a baby with no arms; some old comments say it showed crossed or tangled legs.

Open 了 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

如 is built from 口 (mouth) for its meaning and 女 (woman) for its sound.

Open 如 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Written in full asshǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
zhǐzhǐ
Same sound today

The left part 扌 is the hand form 手. The right part 旨 gives the sound.

Open 指 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
shàngzhǎng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

It combines 手, meaning hand, with 尚, which gives it a sound close to shàng.

Open 掌 →

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