蛛丝马迹 (zhū sī mǎ jì) — small but revealing clues or traces; subtle or hidden structural indications (in writing, arguments, etc.)
Definition
A chengyu meaning 'tiny clues or traces' left behind — like spider silk and horse tracks — used to piece together what happened (often in detective or literary analysis contexts).
idiom
small but revealing clues or tracessubtle or hidden structural indications (in writing, arguments, etc.)
Examples
- 蛛丝马迹。Jǐng chá gēn jù zhè xiē zhū sī mǎ jì zhǎo dào le shī zōng de hái zi.The police found the missing child based on these clues.
- 蛛丝马迹，。Zhè piān xiǎo shuō lǐ chōng mǎn le zhū sī mǎ jì, àn shì zhe gù shi de zhēn zhèng jié jú.This novel is full of subtle clues that hint at the story's true ending.
- 蛛丝马迹，。Cóng xiàn chǎng de zhū sī mǎ jì lái kàn, zuì fàn shì cóng chuāng hu jìn lái de.Judging from the traces at the scene, the criminal entered through the window.
Appears in
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