一语道破

一語道破

yìyǔ-dàopò

idiom #70,170

Meanings

HSK 4

他一语道破了问题的关键。

Tā yìyǔ-dàopò le wèntí de guānjiàn.

He hit the nail on the head about the crux of the problem.

HSK 6

老师的评论一语道破了这篇文章的缺点。

Lǎoshī de pínglùn yìyǔ-dàopò le zhè piān wénzhāng de quēdiǎn.

The teacher's comment laid bare the weaknesses of the essay in one sentence.

HSK 7-9

她一语道破天机，大家都惊呆了。

Tā yìyǔ-dàopò tiānjī, dàjiā dōu jīng dāi le.

She exposed the secret in a single remark and everyone was stunned.

usage

Often collocates with 天机 (tiānjī, 'heavenly secret') to 一语道破天机, used when someone reveals what others had been dancing around.

memory

一 (one) + 语 (word) + 道 (speak) + 破 (break through) - 'one word breaks it open'.

一 yī

语 yǔ

道 dào

破 pò