# 一五一十

yī wǔ yī shí

Give a full account in orderly detail

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** One five and one ten

**Register:** General · spoken & written

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

## When to use it

Describe telling the details fully and clearly.

It usually modifies recounting or explaining rather than an exact numerical total.

## The image & its use

Counting in a steady sequence offers an image of leaving nothing out. This expression uses that sense of order for a complete account of an experience, arrangement, or process. A learner might explain each step of a project so another person can understand what happened. The phrase emphasizes completeness, but good communication still chooses relevant detail. A full account should answer the listener's actual questions rather than bury the main point under unrelated information that happens to be available.

## Examples

她把活动安排一五一十地告诉了大家。

### Traditional Chinese

她把活動安排一五一十地告訴了大家。

tā bǎ huó dòng ān pái yī wǔ yī shí dì gào sù le dà jiā 。

She explained the activity arrangements fully and in detail.

他一五一十地介绍了模型的制作过程。

### Traditional Chinese

他一五一十地介紹了模型的製作過程。

tā yī wǔ yī shí dì jiè shào le mó xíng de zhì zuò guò chéng 。

He gave a complete account of how the model was made.

请把需要的材料一五一十地列出来。

### Traditional Chinese

請把需要的材料一五一十地列出來。

qǐng bǎ xū yào de cái liào yī wǔ yī shí dì liè chū lái 。

Please list all the required materials clearly and fully.

她把参观时的见闻一五一十地讲给家人听。

### Traditional Chinese

她把參觀時的見聞一五一十地講給家人聽。

tā bǎ cān guān shí de jiàn wén yī wǔ yī shí dì jiǎng gěi jiā rén tīng 。

She recounted everything she had seen during the visit to her family.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1308&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%B8%80%E4%BA%94%E4%B8%80%E5%8D%81)

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