盲人摸象

Chinese

		blind person	feel with the hand; to touch; to stroke feel with the hand; to touch; to stroke; to grope; to feel (one's pulse); imitate; copy	shape; form; appearance shape; form; appearance; elephant; image under a map (math.)
simp. and trad. (盲人摸象)		盲人	摸	象
Literally: “The blind man touches some parts of an elephant (and concludes what an elephant looks like).”

Etymology

From Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra. See Blind men and an elephant.

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): mángrénmōxiàng

(Zhuyin): ㄇㄤˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄛㄒㄧㄤˋ
Cantonese (Jyutping): maang⁴ jan⁴ mo² zoeng⁶

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Pinyin: mángrénmōxiàng
  - Zhuyin: ㄇㄤˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄛㄒㄧㄤˋ
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: mangrenmhoshianq
  - IPA ^(key): /mɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: maang⁴ jan⁴ mo² zoeng⁶
  - Yale: màahng yàhn mó jeuhng
  - Cantonese Pinyin: maang⁴ jan⁴ mo² dzoeng⁶
  - Guangdong Romanization: mang⁴ yen⁴ mo² zêng⁶
  - IPA ^(key): /mɑːŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ mɔː³⁵ t͡ɕœːŋ²²/

Idiom

盲人摸象

(figuratively) to draw (incorrect) conclusions from partial understanding

Synonyms

瞎子摸象 (xiāzimōxiàng)
眾盲摸象／众盲摸象

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