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HSK 4 Chinese reading practice

一叶障目

yí yè zhàng mù

A Leaf Blocks the View

A man believes a leaf can hide him from everyone, and puts that belief to the test at a market.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 4
READ2 min
HANZI320
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文化
CULTURE

A leaf, a mistaken belief, and two sources

This retelling follows the Chu man’s invisibility anecdote in Xiaolin (笑林). It illustrates the mistaken judgment associated with 一叶障目, but it is not presented as the idiom’s earliest source. Heguanzi, Tianze contains the older expression about a leaf blocking the eyes from seeing a mountain. The story ends with the official laughing and releasing the man, as in the cited anecdote.

Key vocabulary10 words from this story
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Check your understanding

Answer three questions without looking at the English translation.

01这个人想用叶子做什么？
02妻子为什么说看不见他了？
03官员听完以后怎么做？
0 / 3questions answered
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Chinese idiom guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about 一叶障目

What does 一叶障目 mean in English?

一叶障目 (yí yè zhàng mù) literally means “one leaf blocks the eyes.” It describes allowing a small part of the evidence, or a narrow preconception, to hide the larger situation.

When is 一叶障目 used?

Use 一叶障目 (yí yè zhàng mù) to criticize a narrow view that prevents someone from seeing the whole picture. The Xiaolin anecdote is an illustrative story; the older wording 一叶蔽目 appears in Heguanzi, Tianze. It is not a claim that leaves can make people invisible. For example: 只看一次失败就否定他的全部努力，未免一叶障目。 (Rejecting all his efforts because of one failure means missing the bigger picture.)

What is the pinyin for 一叶障目?

The pinyin pronunciation for 一叶障目 is “yí yè zhàng mù.”