# 头头是道

tóu tóu shì dào

Be clear and well reasoned throughout

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Every point follows a sound path

**Traditional Chinese:** 頭頭是道

**Register:** Appreciative · expressive

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

## When to use it

Praise coherent explanations or apparently plausible talk.

May be ironic if speech exceeds real ability.

## Understanding the expression

Each point seems connected to a clear line of reasoning. The expression praises orderly, convincing explanation rather than scattered remarks. It often appears with a verb of speaking, describing someone who makes a subject sound understandable. Context can also be ironic: a person may speak persuasively but fail in practice. Coherence is valuable, yet factual accuracy and practical competence still need their own evidence beyond how neatly the words fit together.

## Examples

她把步骤讲得头头是道。

### Traditional Chinese

她把步驟講得頭頭是道。

tā bǎ bù zhòu jiǎng dé tóu tóu shì dào 。

She explained the steps clearly and logically.

他说得头头是道，却不会操作。

### Traditional Chinese

他說得頭頭是道，卻不會操作。

tā shuō dé tóu tóu shì dào ， què bú huì cāo zuò 。

He speaks convincingly but cannot operate it.

孩子分析剧情，头头是道。

### Traditional Chinese

孩子分析劇情，頭頭是道。

hái zi fēn xī jù qíng ， tóu tóu shì dào 。

The child analyzed the plot coherently.

他的建议头头是道，值得试试。

### Traditional Chinese

他的建議頭頭是道，值得試試。

tā de jiàn yì tóu tóu shì dào ， zhí dé shì shì 。

His advice is well reasoned and worth trying.

## 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%A0%AD%E9%A0%AD%E6%98%AF%E9%81%93)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=932&webMd=1&la=0)

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