一目了然

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: yì mù liǎo rán
• English Translation: Clear at a glance, obvious
• Idiom Composition: 「一」（One）＋「目」（Gaze, glance）＋「了」（To be clear）＋「然」（Appearance, state）
• Meaning: The state of being clearly understood with just one glance. It describes things that are very clear and easy to understand.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「一目了然」 contains the following nuances:

• Clarity: Emphasizes that things are very clear and leave no room for misunderstanding.
• Conciseness: Suggests that information is organized and expressed concisely.
• Intuitive understanding: Means that something can be understood intuitively without the need for complex explanations or analysis.

3. Usage

「一目了然」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Explaining things: Describes charts, explanations, situations, etc., that are clear and easy to understand.
  • Example:「这个图表设计得非常直观，数据一目了然。」
    （The design of this chart is very intuitive, and the data is clear at a glance.）
• Describing a situation: Indicates that a certain situation or fact is obvious to anyone who sees it.
  • Example:「经过他的解释，这个问题变得一目了然。」
    （After his explanation, the problem became clear at a glance.）
• A person's ability: It can also describe a person who can understand things quickly and has insight.
  • Example:「他的理解能力很强，看到这个图表就一目了然。」
    （His comprehension ability is strong; he could understand this chart at a glance.）

Additional Examples:

1. 她把房间收拾得井井有条，所有物品一目了然。
   （She tidied up her room so neatly that everything was clear at a glance.）
2. 这个报告写得非常清楚，读者可以一目了然地了解整个项目的进展。
   （This report is written very clearly, and readers can understand the progress of the entire project at a glance.）
3. 老师在黑板上画了一张流程图，整个解题步骤一目了然。
   （The teacher drew a flowchart on the blackboard, making the entire problem-solving process clear at a glance.）
4. 他的表情一目了然地告诉我，他不喜欢这个计划。
   （His expression told me at a glance that he didn't like the plan.）
5. 这幅画的构图简洁明快，主题一目了然。
   （The composition of this painting is simple and clear, and the theme is obvious at a glance.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• In Chinese culture, expressing things concisely and clearly is highly valued. The idiom 一目了然 reflects this cultural emphasis on clarity and straightforwardness.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 一清二楚 (yì qīng èr chǔ): To be very clear, to be distinct.
  • 了如指掌 (liǎo rú zhǐ zhǎng): To know something very well, to be as clear as pointing to one's palm.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 扑朔迷离 (pū shuò mí lí): To be complicated and confusing, to be in a fog.
  • 雾里看花 (wù lǐ kàn huā): To see flowers in a fog, to be blurry and unclear.

6. Summary

'一目了然' is a frequently used idiom that describes things that are very clear and easy to understand. It can be used in various situations, such as when presenting information or explaining a situation. It is one of the expressions you should definitely remember to enrich your Chinese writing and conversation.