独当一面 (dú dāng yī miàn) — to take charge of a department or area independently; to be competent to handle a task on one's own

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'to handle a whole area on one's own' — focuses on being independently competent to run a department, project, or field. Often used to praise someone's capability to work without supervision.

verb
to take charge of a department or area independentlyto be competent to handle a task on one's own

Examples

  • ，独当一面。
    Tā gōng zuò jǐ nián hòu, yǐ jīng néng dú dāng yī miàn le.
    After working for a few years, he is already able to take charge of his own area.
  • 独当一面。
    Gōng sī xū yào péi yǎng yì pī néng dú dāng yī miàn de rén cái.
    The company needs to cultivate a group of talents who can take charge independently.
  • ，独当一面。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù jiāo gěi tā, tā wán quán néng dú dāng yī miàn.
    Give this project to him — he is fully capable of handling it on his own.

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 獨; 独 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ獨dú
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 獨 pairs 犬 (dog) with 蜀, which gives the sound; the simplified 独 is a shorthand.

Open 独 →

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 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

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

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.

Open 面 →

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