諺語 · a single proverb
開門見山
Simplified: 开门见山
What does 開門見山 (kāi mén jiàn shān) mean?
開門見山 (kāi mén jiàn shān) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "Open the door and see the mountain." In use it means: To speak directly and get straight to the point without preamble or evasion. Clarity favors those who skip the circling. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Horse.
Literally: "Open the door and see the mountain.."
The reading
There is a kind of respect in refusing to waste someone's time with decoration. The mountain does not hide behind the door; it is simply there when you open it. Directness can feel blunt, but vagueness wastes far more goodwill than honesty ever does. Speaking plainly is its own form of courage. The clearest view comes to those who stop arranging curtains.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common classical Chinese idiom, widely attested in Ming-Qing literature
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Friendship, Trust & Speech, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Horse, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 開門見山 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 開門見山 (kāi mén jiàn shān) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Common classical Chinese idiom, widely attested in Ming-Qing literature. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 開門見山?
In Mandarin it is kāi mén jiàn shān. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 開門見山 aloud in Mandarin.