一目了然
Traditional: 一目瞭然
yī mù liǎo rán HSK 6

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

地图上的路线一目了然。
Dìtú shàng de lùxiàn yí mù liǎo rán.
The route on the map is immediately obvious.
报告的数据一目了然,很容易理解。
Bàogào de shùjù yí mù liǎo rán, hěn róngyì lǐjiě.
The data in the report sticks out a mile, making it easy to understand.
他的错误一目了然,无法否认。
Tā de cuòwù yí mù liǎo rán, wúfǎ fǒurèn.
His mistake is immediately obvious and cannot be denied.
他的错误一目了然。
Tā de cuòwù yí mù liǎo rán.
His mistake is immediately obvious.
地图上一目了然。
Dìtú shàng yí mù liǎo rán.
It's clear at a glance on the map.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 一 (one), 目 (eye), 了 (to understand), 然 (suffix indicating state). Imagine 'one eye look' leading to 'understanding state'—you get it in a single glance! Think of a well-designed infographic that makes everything clear instantly.

📝 Usage Notes

This idiom is used in both formal and informal contexts, commonly in written and spoken Chinese. It is often applied to describe visual materials (like charts, reports, diagrams), situations, or explanations that are exceptionally clear and easy to grasp. For example, it's frequently used in business, academic, or instructional settings.

📖 Grammar Points

It functions as a predicate or complement in a sentence. Common patterns include: Subject + 一目了然 (e.g., 这个图表一目了然) or Subject + Verb + 得 + 一目了然 (e.g., 他说得一目了然). It is often preceded by descriptions of clarity like 清晰, 简单, or 明了.

🏯 Cultural Notes

This idiom reflects a cultural appreciation for clarity, efficiency, and directness in communication, especially in educational and professional environments where quick understanding is valued. It aligns with the aesthetic of presenting information in an organized, visually accessible manner.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar to 显而易见 (xiǎn'éryìjiàn, obvious and easy to see), which also means 'obvious,' but 一目了然 emphasizes the speed of understanding ('at a glance') and often relates to visual clarity, while 显而易见 is broader and can refer to abstract facts or logical conclusions.

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