恍然大悟 huǎngrán-dàwù to suddenly realize
(idiom) to suddenly realize; to suddenly see the light
How to remember 恍然大悟: 恍 absent-minded + 然 however + 大 big + 悟 to realize = to suddenly realize.
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How it is used
- The moment of sudden understanding - the light finally goes on - 听他一解释，我才恍然大悟 (tīng tā yì jiěshì, wǒ cái huǎngrán-dàwù) once he explained, it all suddenly clicked.
- Implies you'd been confused/in the dark until a trigger clears it up; often follows 一…才… or 这才.
- Idiomatic and vivid; stronger than plain 明白 (míngbai, to understand).