明察秋毫
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Chinese[edit]
to inspect or observe publicly; to note clearly; to perceive | a small amount; a little bit; in the slightest | ||
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trad. (明察秋毫) | 明察 | 秋毫 | |
simp. #(明察秋毫) | 明察 | 秋毫 |
Etymology[edit]
- 曰:「有復於王者曰:『吾力足以舉百鈞』,而不足以舉一羽;『明足以察秋毫之末』,而不見輿薪,則王許之乎?」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
- Yuē: “Yǒu fù yú wáng zhě yuē: ‘Wú lì zúyǐ jǔ bǎi jūn’, ér bù zúyǐ jǔ yī yǔ; ‘míng zúyǐ chá qiūháo zhī mò’, ér bùjiàn yú xīn, zé wáng xǔ zhī hū?” [Pinyin]
- Mencius replied, "Suppose a man were to make this statement to your Majesty: 'My strength is sufficient to lift three thousand catties, but it is not sufficient to lift one feather; my eyesight is sharp enough to examine the point of an autumn hair, but I do not see a wagon-load of faggots;' would your Majesty allow what he said?"
曰:「有复于王者曰:『吾力足以举百钧』,而不足以举一羽;『明足以察秋毫之末』,而不见舆薪,则王许之乎?」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation[edit]
Idiom[edit]
明察秋毫
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