醍醐灌顶

醍醐灌頂
tíhú-guàndǐng
idiom #33,536

Meanings

  1. 1 to be anointed with pure ghee on the head
  2. 2 to be suddenly enlightened
  3. 3 a sudden flash of insight

Examples

HSK 2
Lǎoshī de yī jù huà ràng wǒ tíhú-guàndǐng.
The teacher's one sentence gave me a flash of insight.
HSK 7-9
Zhè běn shū ràng tā tíhú-guàndǐng, huòrán-kāilǎng.
This book gave him a sudden, clarifying realization.
HSK 7-9
Tīng le tā de jiǎngjiě, wǒ yǒu tíhú-guàndǐng zhī gǎn.
After hearing his explanation, I felt as if I'd been struck by sudden wisdom.

Tips

history
From Gu Kuang's Tang-dynasty poem 《行路难》: 岂知灌顶有醍醐 ('who knew there is ghee to anoint the crown'). 醍醐 (purified ghee) is a Buddhist metaphor for the highest teaching; 灌顶 (anointing the crown) is a Vajrayana initiation ritual.
culture
Pure Buddhist imagery imported into everyday Chinese. Now secular, used for any 'aha' moment, from academic breakthroughs to life advice.

Stroke Order

guàn
dǐng