切中时弊

切中時弊

qièzhòng-shíbì

idiom

Meanings

1 to hit the nail on the head about current social ills
2 to pinpoint the problems of the day

Characters

precisely / closely

current / contemporary

Examples

HSK 5

这篇评论切中时弊，引起了广泛讨论。

Zhè piān pínglùn qièzhòngshíbì, yǐnqǐ le guǎngfàn tǎolùn.

This commentary cut right to the heart of today's problems and sparked widespread discussion.

HSK 7-9

他的发言切中时弊，赢得满堂喝彩。

Tā de fāyán qièzhòngshíbì, yíngdé mǎntáng hècǎi.

His remarks pinpointed the issues of the day and won applause from the whole audience.

Tips

history

切 'precisely' + 中 'hit the mark' + 时弊 'current social ills.' Used in modern essay writing - one well-known tribute praised certain essays for being 旗帜鲜明、爱憎分明、切中时弊 ('clear in stance, sharp in judgment, on-target about current ills'), the classic register for this phrase.

Stroke Order

切 qiē

中 zhōng

时 shí

弊 bì