諺語 · a single proverb
一針見血
Simplified: 一针见血
What does 一針見血 (yī zhēn jiàn xuè) mean?
一針見血 (yī zhēn jiàn xuè) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "one needle, see blood." In use it means: Getting straight to the point. A single remark that hits the exact problem. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Rooster.
Literally: "one needle, see blood."
The reading
The acupuncturist who needs one needle instead of ten knows exactly where the blockage is. The speaker who makes one point instead of a speech knows exactly where the confusion is. Precision is not about saying less. It is about knowing where to put the needle.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common medical and literary idiom
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 Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 一針見血 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 一針見血 (yī zhēn jiàn xuè) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Common medical and literary idiom. 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 一針見血?
In Mandarin it is yī zhēn jiàn xuè. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 一針見血 aloud in Mandarin.