fail to recognize an important person; blind to greatness
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to fail to recognize someone of high status or great ability; to be blind to someone's greatness
Often used apologetically when one realizes they have underestimated or failed to recognize an important person. Can also be used self-deprecatingly.
Wǒ我
zhēn真
shì是
yǒu有
yǎn眼
bù不
shí识
tài泰
shān山
，
méi没
xiǎng想
dào到
nín您
jiù就
shì是
nà那
wèi位
zhù著
míng名
zuò作
jiā家
。
I really had eyes but failed to see Mount Tai; I didn't realize you were that famous writer.
Gāng刚
cái才
duō多
yǒu有
dé得
zuì罪
，
yǒu有
yǎn眼
bù不
shí识
tài泰
shān山
，
qǐng请
nín您
yuán原
liàng谅
。
I offended you just now; I failed to recognize your importance. Please forgive me.
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Tā他
gǎn感
tàn叹
zì自
jǐ己
yǒu有
yǎn眼
bù不
shí识
tài泰
shān山
，
cuò错
guò过
le了
yǔ与
nà那
wèi位
dà大
shī师
hé合
zuò作
de的
jī机
huì会
。
He lamented that he had failed to recognize greatness and missed the opportunity to collaborate with that master.