lack self-knowledge; blind to one's own shortcomings
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
the eye cannot see its own lashes; (figuratively) to lack self-awareness; to be blind to one's own faults
literaryUsed to criticize someone who is keenly aware of others' faults but fails to recognize their own. Often used in a mildly admonishing or literary tone.
Tā他
zǒng总
shì是
pī批
píng评
bié别
rén人
mǎ马
hu虎
，
què却
duì对
zì自
jǐ己
fàn犯
de的
tóng同
yàng样
cuò错
wù误
shì视
ér而
bù不
jiàn见
，
zhēn真
shì是
mù目
bù不
jiàn见
jié睫
。
He always criticizes others for being careless, yet turns a blind eye to the same mistakes he makes; he truly lacks self-awareness.
Zuò作
wéi为
lǐng领
dǎo导
，
bù不
néng能
mù目
bù不
jiàn见
jié睫
，
yào要
shí时
cháng常
fǎn反
xǐng省
zì自
jǐ己
de的
bù不
zú足
。
As a leader, one cannot be blind to one's own shortcomings; one must regularly reflect on one's own inadequacies.
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Gǔ古
rén人
yún云
：
"
mù目
bù不
jiàn见
jié睫
，
ér而
néng能
jiàn见
háo毫
máo毛
。
"
Zhè
jù这
huà句
hěn话
yǒu很
dào有
lǐ道
理
。
The ancients said: 'The eye cannot see its own lashes, but it can see fine hairs.' This saying makes a lot of sense.
Tā他
duì对
gōng公
sī司
de的
guǎn管
lǐ理
wèn问
tí题
kuā夸
kuā夸
qí其
tán谈
，
què却
duì对
zì自
jǐ己
de的
shī失
zhí职
bì避
ér而
bù不
tán谈
，
diǎn典
xíng型
de的
mù目
bù光
jiàn不
jié见
睫
。
He talks grandly about the company's management problems but avoids discussing his own dereliction of duty, a classic case of lacking self-knowledge.