发人深省

發人深省
fārén-shēnxǐng
idiom #31,368

Meanings

  1. 1 thought-provoking
  2. 2 to stir deep reflection in people
  3. 3 to provide food for thought

Examples

HSK 6
Zhège gùshi suī duǎn, què fārén-shēnxǐng.
Though short, this story is profoundly thought-provoking.
HSK 7-9
Zhè bù jìlùpiàn fārén-shēnxǐng.
This documentary is deeply thought-provoking.
HSK 7-9
Tā de yǎnjiǎng fārén-shēnxǐng, ràng zàichǎng de měigè rén dōu xiànrù le chénsī.
His speech was so thought-provoking that everyone present fell into deep reflection.

Tips

history
From Du Fu's Tang-dynasty 《游龙门奉先寺》: 欲觉闻晨钟令人发深省 - 'just as I am about to wake, the morning bell makes me deeply reflect.' The bell that rouses one from sleep is the metaphor: something jolts awareness.
mistakes
here is read xǐng (reflect/realize), NOT shěng (save/province). is also read fā (to issue/arouse), not fà.

Stroke Order

rén
shēn
shěng