头头是道

頭頭是道

tóutóu-shìdào

idiom HSK 7 #36,142

Meanings

1 clear and logical; well-reasoned
2 to speak eloquently and coherently

Characters

头头

tóutóu

every point; each aspect

the Way; reason; logic

Literally 'every point is the Way' — originally a Buddhist term meaning everything reveals the truth, now meaning every point someone makes is logical.

Examples

他说起经济问题来头头是道。

Tā shuō qǐ jīngjì wèntí lái tóutóu-shìdào.

He speaks about economic issues in a very clear and logical way.

别看她年纪小，分析问题头头是道。

Bié kàn tā niánjì xiǎo, fēnxī wèntí tóutóu-shìdào.

Don't let her young age fool you — her analysis is thorough and logical.

Tips

history

This idiom originated from Chan (Zen) Buddhism, where 头头 meant 'in every situation' and 道 referred to Buddhist enlightenment. The original meaning was 'the Way is present in everything.' Over centuries it shifted to its modern meaning of speaking coherently.

Stroke Order

头 tóu

是 shì

道 dào