story misunderstanding inconsistency common sense

"一叶障目" (yī yè zhàng mù) - A Leaf Blocking the Eye

一叶障目

Being unable to see the whole picture due to being misled by a part or a temporary phenomenon.

Story

The idiom "一叶障目" (yī yè zhàng mù) comes from the Hé Guān Zi (Master Hé Guan 鹖冠子), specifically "Heaven's Laws" (天则).

The original text uses the analogy of a leaf blocking one's view of Mount Tai (泰山), a large and prominent mountain in China. If a single leaf is held in front of the eye, it can completely obscure the view of this massive mountain. This illustrates how a small, insignificant thing can prevent one from seeing the bigger picture or understanding the true nature of a situation.

Meaning and Usage

"一叶障目" literally translates to "a leaf blocking the eye." It is used to describe a situation where someone is unable to see the whole picture or understand the true nature of something because they are focused on a small, insignificant detail or misled by a temporary phenomenon.

  • Example (In decision-making): “我们做决策时要全面考虑，不能一叶障目，只看到眼前的利益。” (“Wǒmen zuò juécè shí yào quánmiàn kǎolǜ, bù néng yī yè zhàng mù, zhǐ kàn dào yǎnqián de lìyì.”) – “When we make decisions, we should consider all aspects and not be ‘a leaf blocking the eye,’ only seeing the immediate benefits.”

  • Example (In understanding information): “我们获取信息要多方查证，避免一叶障目，被片面的报道所误导。” (“Wǒmen huòqǔ xìnxī yào duōfāng cházhèng, bìmiǎn yī yè zhàng mù, bèi piànmiàn de bàodào suǒ wùdǎo.”) – “When we obtain information, we should verify it from multiple sources to avoid ‘a leaf blocking the eye’ and being misled by biased reports.”

Cultural Significance of Chéngyǔ (成语)

"一叶障目" emphasizes the importance of:

  • Holistic Perspective: It highlights the need to consider the whole picture and not be fixated on small details.
  • Objectivity and Open-mindedness: It underscores the importance of being objective and open-minded to avoid being misled by superficial appearances or temporary phenomena.
  • 管中窥豹 (guǎn zhōng kuī bào): To look at a leopard through a tube; to have a limited view.
  • 以偏概全 (yǐ piān gài quán): To take a part for the whole; to generalize from a single case.