look at a leopard through a bamboo tube; a metaphor for having a limited, partial view
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesidiom
to have a narrow, limited view of something; to see only a part
literaryThe idiom originates from《世说新语•方正》(A New Account of the Tales of the World). It is usually used to critique a perspective that is too narrow or to describe insufficient understanding. It often carries a slightly negative or cautionary tone.
Your understanding of this country is merely looking at a leopard through a tube; you should read more comprehensive history books.
Judging his thoughts based on just one article is like looking at a leopard through a bamboo tube.
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His report was fragmented, giving people the feeling of seeing only a part, making it impossible to grasp the overall picture.
idiom
when used with '可见一斑', it means the observed part can suggest the whole picture
literaryIn this specific paired usage, the idiom's connotation shifts from being purely negative/critical to acknowledging that a small part can be indicative of the whole, similar to 'seeing the world in a grain of sand.' The phrase '管中窥豹，可见一斑' is a common collocation.
Look at a leopard through a tube, and you can see one spot. From his attitude in handling this small matter, one can infer his character.
Although this summary is brief, it's like seeing a spot of the leopard through the tube; the core concept of the project is already clear.