当局者迷 (dāng jú zhě mí) — the person directly involved in a situation lacks objectivity (often used in the saying 当局者迷，旁观者清)

Definition

A chengyu from the saying 当局者迷，旁观者清: the person involved in a situation can't see it clearly. Used to admit one's own blind spot and suggest seeking outside input.

verb
the person directly involved in a situation lacks objectivity (often used in the saying 当局者迷，旁观者清)

Examples

  • ，当局者迷，。
    Zhè ge wèn tí, dāng jú zhě mí, xū yào tīng tīng bié rén de yì jiàn.
    For this problem, the person involved is blind to it — you need to listen to others' opinions.
  • 当局者迷，，。
    dāng jú zhě mí, Páng guān zhě qīng, nǐ hái shì wèn wèn péng you ba.
    The player is blind, the onlooker sees clearly — you should ask a friend.
  • ，当局者迷，。
    Zuò wéi dāng shì rén, tā dāng jú zhě mí, wán quán kàn bù qīng zì jǐ de cuò wù.
    As the person involved, he lacks objectivity and completely fails to see his own mistakes.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 當; 当 is its simplified writing.

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

The traditional form 當 combines 田 (field) with 尚; the evidence describes fields facing each other.

Open 当 →

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
尸尸shī
Sound part声符shēngfú
句
句jù局jú
Same sound today

The shape of 局 pairs 尸, a meaning part, with 句, a sound part.

Open 局 →

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

The form 者 originally drew a sugarcane with full stems, small points around it, and an open smiling mouth at the bottom.

Open 者 →

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
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
米
米mǐ迷mí
Same sound today

迷 uses 辵, the walking part, and 米, which gives the sound.

Open 迷 →

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