# 一目十行

yī mù shí háng

Read extremely quickly

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** See ten lines in one glance

**Register:** Positive · general

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

## When to use it

Praise rapid reading, often as exaggeration.

Speed does not necessarily prove comprehension.

## Understanding the expression

Ten lines taken in at once exaggerate the breadth of a single glance. The expression describes someone who reads or scans text very rapidly. It often praises a quick reader but can also suggest that someone moved too fast to notice detail. The practical distinction is between scanning for a known item and studying an argument closely. Context should show whether speed helped the task or reduced understanding.

## Examples

她一目十行，很快找到电话号码。

### Traditional Chinese

她一目十行，很快找到電話號碼。

tā yī mù shí háng ， hěn kuài zhǎo dào diàn huà hào mǎ 。

She scanned rapidly and found the phone number.

他读小说一目十行。

### Traditional Chinese

他讀小說一目十行。

tā dú xiǎo shuō yī mù shí háng 。

He reads novels very quickly.

合同不能一目十行地看。

hé tong bù néng yī mù shí háng dì kàn 。

A contract should not be skimmed rapidly.

姐姐一目十行，半小时读完了报告。

### Traditional Chinese

姐姐一目十行，半小時讀完了報告。

jiě jie yī mù shí háng ， bàn xiǎo shí dú wán le bào gào 。

My sister read rapidly and finished the report in half an hour.

## 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=%E4%B8%80%E7%9B%AE%E5%8D%81%E8%A1%8C)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=434&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [一气呵成 yī qì hē chéng Complete smoothly in one continuous flow ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-qi-he-cheng)

- [易如反掌 yì rú fǎn zhǎng Extremely easy to do ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-ru-fan-zhang)

- [一事无成 yī shì wú chéng Have achieved nothing ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-shi-wu-cheng)

- [一丝不苟 yī sī bù gǒu Work with meticulous care ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-si-bu-gou)

## 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 一目了然 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-mu-liao-ran) [Next idiom 一诺千金 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-nuo-qian-jin)