开门见山

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: kāi mén jiàn shān
• English Translation: Opening the door to see the mountain (getting straight to the point)
• Idiom Composition: 「开」（To open）＋「门」（Door or gate）＋「见」（To see or behold）＋「山」（Mountain (here serving as a metaphor for the main subject or core issue)）
• Meaning: To get straight to the point from the very beginning of a speech or piece of writing without any roundabout preamble. It describes a direct and efficient style of communication.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「开门见山」 contains the following nuances:

• Immediacy: The sequence of 'opening' and 'seeing' emphasizes the speed of reaching the core issue without the need for social cushions or lengthy introductions.
• Clarity: It signifies that the speaker's intentions are transparent and not hidden behind vague language, a trait highly valued in professional settings.

3. Usage

「开门见山」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Business and Meetings: Used to encourage efficiency or to signal that one is skipping formalities to address the core agenda immediately.
  • Example:「时间有限，我们就开门见山，直接讨论预算问题吧。」
    （Since time is limited, let's get straight to the point and discuss the budget issues directly.）
• Writing and Speech Style: Used to describe or praise a style of writing that avoids flowery introductions and identifies the theme immediately.
  • Example:「这篇文章开门见山地指出了目前教育制度存在的弊端。」
    （This article gets straight to the point by identifying the flaws in the current education system from the very first paragraph.）

Additional Examples:

1. 我不喜欢拐弯抹角，咱们还是开门见山吧。
   （I don't like beating around the bush; let's get straight to the point.）
2. 他一进办公室就开门见山地提出了辞职。
   （As soon as he entered the office, he straightforwardly submitted his resignation.）
3. 与其互相猜测，不如开门见山把话说清楚。
   （Instead of guessing each other's intentions, it's better to speak candidly and clear things up.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Origin: Derived from a poem by the Tang Dynasty (唐代) poet Liu Deren (刘得仁) titled 'Qinglong Temple Monastery' (青龙寺僧院), which contains the line: 'This place is worth spending the whole day; opening the door, one sees several peaks' (此地堪终日，开门见数峰).
• Evolution: Originally a literal description of beautiful scenery, it was later adopted in Song Dynasty (宋代) literary criticism to describe writing that hits the mark immediately without unnecessary filler.
• Modern Nuance: In contemporary Chinese, it carries a very positive connotation, reflecting the value placed on efficiency and honesty in modern society and business environments.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 单刀直入 (dān dāo zhí rù): Charging in with a single blade; getting to the heart of the matter without preamble.
  • 直截了当 (zhí jié liǎo dàng): Direct and plain-spoken; without hesitation or roundabout ways.
  • 有的放矢 (yǒu dì fàng shǐ): To have a definite object in view.link
  • 一目了然 (yī mù liǎo rán): Clear at a glance.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 旁敲侧击 (páng qiāo cè jī): Beating around the bush; making oblique references instead of speaking directly.
  • 拐弯抹角 (guǎi wān mò jiǎo): Following bends and corners; being circuitous or indirect in speech.
  • 离题万里 (lí tí wàn lǐ): To stray far from the topic.link
  • 模棱两可 (mó léng liǎng kě): To be ambiguous or equivocal, having two or more possible meanings.link

6. Summary

开门见山 (kāi mén jiàn shān) is an idiom used to describe getting straight to the heart of a matter immediately, much like seeing a mountain the moment you open your door. In modern contexts, especially business and debate, it represents a positive, efficient, and candid communication style.