# 茅塞顿开

máo sè dùn kāi

Suddenly break through confusion

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A blocked passage suddenly opens

**Traditional Chinese:** 茅塞頓開

**Register:** Positive · literary

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

## When to use it

Use to thank someone for an explanation that brings clarity.

It is expressive and somewhat literary.

## Behind the words

Traditional writing compares an obstructed mind with a passage blocked by growth. Removing the obstruction makes understanding possible.

茅塞 pictures something blocked by dense growth, while 顿开 suggests the blockage opening at once. In figurative use, an explanation or clue suddenly removes confusion. It often sounds appreciative toward someone who helped. It is stronger than routine agreement and should imply that the person previously did not understand the relevant point.

## Examples

你这么一解释，我真是茅塞顿开。

### Traditional Chinese

你這麼一解釋，我真是茅塞頓開。

nǐ zhè me yì jiě shì ， wǒ zhēn shì máo sè dùn kāi 。

Your explanation has suddenly cleared up my confusion.

老师画了一张图，我立刻茅塞顿开。

### Traditional Chinese

老師畫了一張圖，我立刻茅塞頓開。

lǎo shī huà le yì zhāng tú ， wǒ lì kè máo sè dùn kāi 。

The teacher's diagram immediately cleared up my confusion.

这段说明让我茅塞顿开，终于知道问题出在哪里。

### Traditional Chinese

這段說明讓我茅塞頓開，終於知道問題出在哪裡。

zhè duàn shuō míng ràng wǒ máo sè dùn kāi ， zhōng yú zhī dào wèn tí chū zài nǎ lǐ 。

The explanation suddenly made me understand where the problem lay.

听你这样一讲，我真是茅塞顿开。

### Traditional Chinese

聽你這樣一講，我真是茅塞頓開。

tīng nǐ zhè yàng yì jiǎng ， wǒ zhēn shì máo sè dùn kāi 。

The way you explained it suddenly made everything clear to me.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=395&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%8C%85%E5%A1%9E%E9%A0%93%E9%96%8B)

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