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Stories/Chinese folklore/The Blind Men and the Elephant
HSK 4 Chinese reading practice

盲人摸象

máng rén mō xiàng

The Blind Men and the Elephant

Four people touch different parts of an elephant and mistake one small piece of the truth for the whole.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 4
READ5 min
HANZI227
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文化
CULTURE

One part is not the whole

盲人摸象 is used when someone reaches a broad conclusion from limited experience. The story reminds readers to combine different viewpoints before judging the whole.

Key vocabulary11 words from this story
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阅读理解 · COMPREHENSION

Check your understanding

Answer three questions without looking at the English translation.

01摸到大象腿的人说大象像什么？
02摸到大象鼻子的人说大象像什么？
03几个人为什么吵了起来？
0 / 3questions answered
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Chinese idiom guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about 盲人摸象

What does 盲人摸象 mean in English?

盲人摸象 (máng rén mō xiàng) literally means “blind people feel an elephant.” It describes mistaking one limited part of a subject for the complete truth.

When is 盲人摸象 used?

Use 盲人摸象 when several people draw broad conclusions from incomplete evidence. For example: Judging the whole company from one meeting is 盲人摸象.

What is the pinyin for 盲人摸象?

The pinyin pronunciation for 盲人摸象 is “máng rén mō xiàng.”