skimming the surface; cursory impression
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Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
superficial impression; cursory observation
literaryDescribes a fleeting, shallow impression or a lack of in-depth understanding. Often has a mildly negative connotation, suggesting the observer did not put in the effort to understand thoroughly.
Zhè这
cì次
lǚ旅
xíng行
zhǐ只
shì是
fú浮
guāng光
lüè掠
yǐng影
，
hěn很
duō多
dì地
fang方
dōu都
méi没
yǒu有
shēn深
rù入
liǎo了
jiě解
。
This trip was just a superficial glance; we didn't gain a deep understanding of many places.
Tā他
duì对
zhè这
ge个
wèn问
tí题
de的
fēn分
xī析
zhǐ只
shì是
fú浮
guāng光
lüè掠
yǐng影
，
méi没
yǒu有
chù触
jí及
běn本
zhì质
。
His analysis of the issue was only skin-deep and didn't touch upon the essence.
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Zhè这
běn本
shū书
wǒ我
zhǐ只
shì是
fú浮
guāng光
lüè掠
yǐng影
de地
fān翻
le了
yī一
xià下
。
I just skimmed through this book cursorily.
Yóu游
kè客
de的
fú浮
guāng光
lüè掠
yǐng影
nán难
yǐ以
tǐ体
huì会
dāng当
dì地
wén文
huà化
de的
shēn深
hòu厚
dǐ底
yùn蕴
。
Tourists' fleeting impressions make it difficult to appreciate the profound cultural heritage of the place.