不畏浮云遮望眼

不畏浮雲遮望眼

bú wèi fú yún zhē wàng yǎn

quotation

Meanings

1 unafraid that drifting clouds will block my view — not distracted by superficial obstacles, keeping sight of the larger picture
2 literally: not afraid of floating clouds blocking (my) gazing eye

Characters

Examples

做决策要不畏浮云遮望眼，看清长远大势。

Zuò juécè yàobú wèi fúyún zhē wàng yǎn, kàn qīng chángyuǎn dà shì.

In making decisions, don't fear clouds blocking your sight — see the long-term trend clearly.

面对各种谣言，他不畏浮云遮望眼，坚持自己的判断。

Miànduì gèzhǒng yáoyán, tā búwèifúyúnzhēwàngyǎn, jiānchí zìjǐ de pànduàn.

Facing all sorts of rumours, he refused to let the clouds block his view, and stood by his own judgement.

Tips

history

From Wang Anshi's (王安石) Northern Song poem 《登飞来峰》 (Climbing Feilai Peak). Couplet: 不畏浮云遮望眼，自缘身在最高层 — 'I do not fear the drifting clouds will block my sight, since I stand on the very highest level.' Wang Anshi was a statesman and reformer; the image encodes a politician's confidence in his elevated perspective. Much-quoted in modern foreign-policy and strategic commentary.

usage

Paired couplet — often quoted with its mate 自缘身在最高层. Register is elevated, political / strategic. Frequent in official speeches about 'long-term thinking' amid short-term noise.

Stroke Order

不 bù

畏 wèi

浮 fú

云 yún

遮 zhē

望 wàng

眼 yǎn