# 面面俱到

miàn miàn jù dào

Attend to every aspect

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Reach every side

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Praise thorough coverage of multiple needs.

Excessive breadth can weaken priorities.

## Understanding the expression

Every side of a matter receives attention, so no obvious aspect is left unattended. The expression can praise thoughtful planning, careful service, or a comprehensive explanation. It does not require treating every detail as equally important. Sometimes a person tries to cover so much that the central purpose becomes unclear. In that setting, the same phrase can hint at excessive caution or superficial coverage spread across too many concerns.

## Examples

她安排周到，面面俱到。

tā ān pái zhōu dào ， miàn miàn jù dào 。

Her arrangements thoughtfully covered every aspect.

这份清单力求面面俱到。

### Traditional Chinese

這份清單力求面面俱到。

zhè fèn qīng dān lì qiú miàn miàn jù dào 。

This checklist aims to cover all the relevant details.

篇幅有限，不能面面俱到。

piān fú yǒu xiàn ， bù néng miàn miàn jù dào 。

With limited space, we cannot cover every aspect.

他照顾各方需求，面面俱到。

### Traditional Chinese

他照顧各方需求，面面俱到。

tā zhào gù gè fāng xū qiú ， miàn miàn jù dào 。

He attended carefully to the needs of every party.

## 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=%E9%9D%A2%E9%9D%A2%E4%BF%B1%E5%88%B0)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=747&webMd=1&la=0)

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