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真相大白 (zhēn xiàng dà bái) — the truth has come to light; everything is clear

Definition

An idiom meaning the hidden truth has finally been revealed, often after investigation or a long wait. Implies a satisfying resolution where confusion or suspicion is cleared up.

idiom
the truth has come to lighteverything is clear

Examples

  • ，真相大白。
    Jīng guò diào chá, zhè jiàn shì zhōng yú zhēn xiàng dà bái le.
    After investigation, the truth about this matter finally came out.
  • 真相大白。
    Dà jiā dōu zài děng dài zhēn xiàng dà bái de nà yì tiān.
    Everyone is waiting for the day when the truth will be clear.
  • 真相大白，。
    Xiàn zài zhēn xiàng dà bái, àn zi kě yǐ jié le.
    Now that the truth is out, the case can be closed.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

真相true facts
真zhēntrue相xiāngappearance
偏正Modifier + head
大白fully clear
大dàgreatly白báiclear
偏正Modifier + head

The 真相, the true facts, become 大白, fully clear, so the matter is out in the open.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →

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

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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

The form 大 is a picture of a person standing and facing forward, not of someone stretching their arms.

Open 大 →

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

白 is thought to picture either an acorn or a human head.

Open 白 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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