blinded by a leaf; fail to see the big picture
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to be blinded by a single leaf; to be misled by narrow or temporary views and fail to see the overall picture
Derived from the phrase '一叶蔽目，不见太山' (a leaf covers the eye and Mount Tai cannot be seen). Often used to warn against being distracted by minor details while losing sight of the bigger picture. Also expressed as 一叶障目.
Wǒ我
men们
bù不
néng能
yī一
yè叶
bì蔽
mù目
，
zhǐ只
kàn看
dào到
yǎn眼
qián前
de的
lì利
yì益
，
ér而
hū忽
shì视
le了
cháng长
yuǎn远
de的
fā发
zhǎn展
。
We must not be blinded by a single leaf, focusing only on immediate gains while ignoring long-term development.
Zuò做
jué决
cè策
shí时
yào要
quán全
miàn面
kǎo考
lǜ虑
，
qiè切
jì忌
yī一
yè叶
bì蔽
mù目
，
bù不
jiàn见
tài泰
shān山
。
When making decisions, we must consider all factors and avoid being blinded by narrow views that miss the bigger picture.
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Yán研
jiū究
wèn问
tí题
bù不
néng能
yī一
yè叶
bì蔽
mù目
，
bì必
xū须
zhǎng掌
wò握
quán全
miàn面
de的
zī资
liào料
。
One cannot study a problem with a narrow view; comprehensive data must be gathered.
Tā他
zǒng总
shì是
pī批
píng评
bié别
rén人
yī一
yè叶
bì蔽
mù目
，
zì自
jǐ己
què却
kàn看
bù不
dào到
zhěng整
tǐ体
qíng情
kuàng况
。
He always criticizes others for being narrow-minded, yet he himself fails to see the whole situation.