# 明目张胆

míng mù zhāng dǎn

Act openly and brazenly

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Open the eyes and boldly display courage

**Traditional Chinese:** 明目張膽

**Register:** Critical · general

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Condemn wrongdoing done without concealment.

Usually negative, unlike open honesty.

## Understanding the expression

Open eyes and displayed boldness suggest no attempt to hide what one is doing. Modern use usually applies this openness to wrongdoing: cheating, copying without permission, or rule breaking carried out as though consequences do not matter. The phrase criticizes both the act and its shameless visibility. It is different from transparent or candid behavior, which may be admirable. The surrounding action determines why such openness is being condemned rather than praised.

## Examples

他明目张胆地插队。

### Traditional Chinese

他明目張膽地插隊。

tā míng mù zhāng dǎn dì chā duì 。

He cut the queue brazenly.

商家明目张胆地卖假货。

### Traditional Chinese

商家明目張膽地賣假貨。

shāng jiā míng mù zhāng dǎn dì mài jiǎ huò 。

The merchant openly sells counterfeit goods.

他们明目张胆地修改记录。

### Traditional Chinese

他們明目張膽地修改記錄。

tā men míng mù zhāng dǎn dì xiū gǎi jì lù 。

They brazenly altered the records.

不能明目张胆地违反规则。

### Traditional Chinese

不能明目張膽地違反規則。

bù néng míng mù zhāng dǎn dì wéi fǎn guī zé 。

You cannot openly flout the rules.

## 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=%E6%98%8E%E7%9B%AE%E5%BC%B5%E8%86%BD)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=202&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [冥顽不灵 míng wán bù líng Remain obstinately unreceptive ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ming-wan-bu-ling)

- [莫逆之交 mò nì zhī jiāo A deeply compatible friendship ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/mo-ni-zhi-jiao)

- [沐猴而冠 mù hóu ér guàn Adopt impressive trappings without genuine worth ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/mu-hou-er-guan)

- [目空一切 mù kōng yī qiè Regard everything and everyone as beneath oneself ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/mu-kong-yi-qie)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 名落孙山 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ming-luo-sun-shan) [Next idiom 明日黄花 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ming-ri-huang-hua)