来龙去脉

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: lái lóng qù mài
• English Translation: The whole story, the sequence of events, the background and details of a matter
• Idiom Composition: 「来」（To come）＋「龙」（Dragon, mountain range）＋「去」（To go, to leave）＋「脉」（Vein, connection, sequence）
• Meaning: Originally a term from feng shui referring to the continuity of mountain ranges, it now mainly means the full course or sequence of events from beginning to end. It is used to explain the background, causes, development, and outcome of a story or incident.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「来龙去脉」 contains the following nuances:

• Understanding the whole picture: Refers to understanding not only the surface aspects but also the background, causes, and related elements to grasp the entire picture.
• Chronological flow: Emphasizes the temporal sequence of how events started, developed, and concluded.
• Cause and effect relationship: Means clarifying the relationship between causes and effects.
• Detailed explanation: Used when explaining the course of events in detail and in order.

3. Usage

「来龙去脉」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Explanation: Used when explaining the background or course of events.
  • Example:「请你把这件事的来龙去脉说清楚。」
    （Please clearly explain the whole story of this matter.）
• Understanding: Used to indicate the need to grasp the 'whole story' in order to understand the entire situation.
  • Example:「只有了解了事情的来龙去脉，才能做出正确的判断。」
    （Only by understanding the full sequence of events can one make a correct judgment.）
• Investigation: Used to indicate the need to investigate the 'whole story' to uncover the truth of an incident or problem.
  • Example:「警方正在调查这起案件的来龙去脉。」
    （The police are investigating the background and details of this case.）

Additional Examples:

1. 他向我们讲述了这个故事的来龙去脉。
   （He told us the whole story of this tale.）
2. 在你做出决定之前，你需要了解整个计划的来龙去脉。
   （Before making a decision, you need to understand the full background of the plan.）
3. 这本书详细地介绍了这个理论的来龙去脉。
   （This book provides a detailed introduction to the origin and development of this theory.）
4. 经过一番调查，我们终于弄清楚了这件事情的来龙去脉。
   （After investigation, we finally clarified the whole sequence of events of this matter.）
5. 老师要求学生们复述课文的来龙去脉。
   （The teacher asked the students to retell the sequence of the lesson.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Connection to feng shui: '来龙去脉' originally comes from feng shui, a traditional Chinese practice of geomancy. In feng shui, mountain ranges are called '龙脉' (dragon veins), and their flow is believed to affect the fortune of the land. '来龙' refers to the origin of the dragon vein, and '去脉' refers to its flow.
• Emphasis on the whole picture: Traditional Chinese thinking values viewing things as a whole rather than in parts. '来龙去脉' reflects this perspective by emphasizing the importance of understanding the entire context.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 前因后果 (qián yīn hòu guǒ): The cause and effect, the sequence of events.
  • 源远流长 (yuán yuǎn liú cháng): Having a long history and a source that goes far back.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 断章取义 (duàn zhāng qǔ yì): Taking things out of context and interpreting them arbitrarily.

6. Summary

'来龙去脉' is an idiom that highlights the importance of understanding the whole picture of a matter, including its background, causes, and related elements, not just the surface details. When using this term, it is important to have the awareness of clarifying the entire context rather than merely describing the sequence of events. Additionally, since traditional Chinese thought emphasizes viewing things as a whole, understanding this cultural background is essential when using '来龙去脉'.