# 来龙去脉

lái lóng qù mài

The complete background and sequence of events

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** The dragon's coming and the channels' going

**Traditional Chinese:** 來龍去脈

**Register:** Practical · general

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Ask for causes, development, and connections of a matter.

More than isolated details or the latest outcome.

## Understanding the expression

The expression gives a matter connected beginnings, movement, and an eventual direction. Modern use asks for the full background and sequence that explain how events developed. It is useful in investigations, explanations, and resolving misunderstandings. A single dramatic fact may not reveal that structure. Understanding requires seeing causes and links as well as the result, so a clear account distinguishes what began the issue from what later complicated or changed it.

## Examples

请说明这件事的来龙去脉。

### Traditional Chinese

請說明這件事的來龍去脈。

qǐng shuō míng zhè jiàn shì de lái lóng qù mài 。

Please explain the whole background and sequence.

她查清了资金流动的来龙去脉。

### Traditional Chinese

她查清了資金流動的來龍去脈。

tā chá qīng le zī jīn liú dòng de lái lóng qù mài 。

She traced the full course of the funds.

了解来龙去脉后，他不再误会。

### Traditional Chinese

瞭解來龍去脈後，他不再誤會。

liǎo jiě lái lóng qù mài hòu ， tā bú zài wù huì 。

Understanding the full story cleared his misunderstanding.

报道没有交代纠纷的来龙去脉。

### Traditional Chinese

報道沒有交代糾紛的來龍去脈。

bào dào méi yǒu jiāo dài jiū fēn de lái lóng qù mài 。

The report omitted the dispute's background and development.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%BE%86%E9%BE%8D%E5%8E%BB%E8%84%88)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=656&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [老马识途 lǎo mǎ shí tú Experience helps someone find the way ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/lao-ma-shi-tu)

- [老生常谈 lǎo shēng cháng tán A familiar point repeated too often ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/lao-sheng-chang-tan)

- [连篇累牍 lián piān lěi dú Write or speak at tedious length ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/lian-pian-lei-du)

- [良莠不齐 liáng yǒu bù qí Good and bad are mixed together ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/liang-you-bu-qi)

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