一针见血 yìzhēn-jiànxiě literally to draw blood on the first prick
literally to draw blood on the first prick (idiom); figuratively to hit the nail on the head
How to remember 一针见血: 一 one + 针 needle + 见 see + 血 blood = literally to draw blood on the first prick.
Characters
How it is used
- 'Draw blood with one prick' = to hit the nail on the head, get straight to the crux - 他的批评一针见血 (tā de pīpíng yìzhēn-jiànxiě) his critique cut right to the heart of it.
- Praises an incisive remark that pinpoints the real problem in a word. Often of criticism, analysis, or comment.
- Near 一语中的 (yìyǔ-zhòngdì, to hit the mark in one word); note 血 reads xiě here, not xuè.