一语道破

一語道破

yīyǔ-dàopò

idiom #70,170

Meanings

他一语道破了问题的关键。

Tā yīyǔdàopò le wèntí de guānjiàn.

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

老师的评论一语道破了这篇文章的缺点。

Lǎoshī de pínglùn yīyǔdàopò le zhè piān wénzhāng de quēdiǎn.

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

她一语道破天机,大家都惊呆了。

Tā yīyǔdàopò 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') → 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