not seek deep understanding; superficial learning
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesidiom
to read for general ideas without getting bogged down in details
literaryOriginally used by Tao Yuanming in "Biography of Master Five Willows" to describe a scholarly attitude of grasping the essence of texts. It carried a neutral or slightly positive connotation, emphasizing intuitive understanding over pedantic analysis.
Tao Yuanming read books not seeking deep explanations; whenever he grasped the meaning, he was so delighted he forgot to eat.
Some scholars suggest that when first reading classics, it's okay not to seek deep understanding and to first feel their overall artistic conception.
idiom
to be content with a superficial understanding; to not delve deeply into a subject
neutralThis is the modern, more commonly used meaning, often with a negative or critical connotation, implying a lazy or careless attitude towards learning or understanding.
He was content with a superficial understanding of the new workplace policy, resulting in many mistakes during implementation.
When learning a foreign language, you can't be content with a superficial understanding; you must understand the usage of each grammar point.
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Many students review before exams by just skimming through the books without deep understanding, so the results are naturally poor.