当头棒喝 (dāng tóu bàng hè) — (idiom) a sharp, stunning warning or rebuke meant to jolt someone into awareness; (idiom) a sudden, harsh lesson that forces a change in perspective
Definition
A chengyu meaning a sharp, jarring warning meant to wake someone out of complacency — literally a blow and a shout delivered to the head. Used for a harsh lesson that forces a sudden change in perspective.
idiom
a sharp, stunning warning or rebuke meant to jolt someone into awarenessa sudden, harsh lesson that forces a change in perspective
Examples
- 当头棒喝，。Lǎo shī de yì fān huà rú tóng dāng tóu bàng hè, ràng tā chè dǐ qīng xǐng guò lái.The teacher's words were like a shock that completely woke him up.
- 当头棒喝，。Zhè cì shī bài duì tā lái shuō shì yì zhǒng dāng tóu bàng hè, cóng cǐ tā bú zài jiāo ào zì mǎn.This failure was a stunning blow for him, and from then on he stopped being arrogant and complacent.
- 当头棒喝，。Fù qīn yán lì de pī píng gěi tā yí gè dāng tóu bàng hè, tā zhōng yú míng bai zì jǐ de cuò wù.Her father's severe criticism was a sharp warning that finally made her understand her mistake.
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