# 水落石出

shuǐ luò shí chū

The truth becomes clear

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Water recedes and rocks emerge

**Register:** Neutral · conversational

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

## When to use it

Use when hidden facts become apparent through investigation or new evidence.

It describes revealing the truth, not merely reaching a convenient explanation.

## Understanding the expression

High water conceals the rocks beneath its surface; falling water allows what was there all along to be seen. The idiom describes a comparable revelation of facts. It often appears while a mystery is being investigated or after evidence resolves uncertainty. The truth may be unpleasant or reassuring. The important change is visibility, rather than the facts themselves being newly created.

## Examples

等监控录像找到了，事情自然会水落石出。

### Traditional Chinese

等監控錄像找到了，事情自然會水落石出。

děng jiān kòng lù xiàng zhǎo dào le ， shì qíng zì rán huì shuǐ luò shí chū 。

Once the security footage is found, the facts should become clear.

经过仔细核对，账目错误终于水落石出。

### Traditional Chinese

經過仔細核對，賬目錯誤終於水落石出。

jīng guò zǐ xì hé duì ， zhàng mù cuò wù zhōng yú shuǐ luò shí chū 。

Careful checking finally revealed the accounting error.

我们先不要猜，等调查结果让真相水落石出。

### Traditional Chinese

我們先不要猜，等調查結果讓真相水落石出。

wǒ men xiān bú yào cāi ， děng diào chá jié guǒ ràng zhēn xiàng shuǐ luò shí chū 。

Let us avoid guessing and wait for the investigation to reveal the truth.

那封旧信让多年的误会水落石出。

### Traditional Chinese

那封舊信讓多年的誤會水落石出。

nà fēng jiù xìn ràng duō nián de wù huì shuǐ luò shí chū 。

The old letter finally clarified a misunderstanding that had lasted for years.

## 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%B0%B4%E8%90%BD%E7%9F%B3%E5%87%BA)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=7&webMd=1&la=0)

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