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一针见血 (yì zhēn-jiàn xiě) — to hit the nail on the head; to make a pointed and accurate remark

Definition

A chengyu meaning a remark gets straight to the point with no wasted words. Use it to praise sharp, accurate criticism or analysis.

phrase
to hit the nail on the headto make a pointed and accurate remark

Examples

  • 一针见血，。
    Tā de pī píng yì zhēn-jiàn xiě, ràng rén wú fǎ fǎn bó.
    His criticism hit the nail on the head, leaving no room for rebuttal.
  • 一针见血。
    Zhè piān bào dào yì zhēn-jiàn xiě dì zhǐ chū le wèn tí de gēn yuán.
    This report pinpointed the root of the problem with remarkable accuracy.
  • 一针见血，。
    Nǐ zhè jù huà shuō dé yì zhēn-jiàn xiě, wǒ wán quán tóng yì.
    What you said was spot on — I completely agree.

Origin

Characters in this word

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 →

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 針; 针 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
釒Written in full as金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
十
十shí針zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 針 puts 釒, the metal side, beside 十, which gives the sound; 针 is a simplified shorthand.

Open 针 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 見; 见 is its simplified writing.

  • 目目mùeye
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The traditional form 見 pairs 目 (eye) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a kneeling figure with a large eye for a head. The simplified 见 is a later shorthand.

Open 见 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 一一yīdrop of blood
  • 皿皿mǐncontainer

The shape shows 一, a drop of blood, inside 皿, a container, for blood held in a sacrificial vessel.

Open 血 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Communication & SpeechIdioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.