走馬觀花

Chinese

to ride on a horse; to go on horseback; to gallop away
 
to look at; to watch; to observe; to behold; Taoist monastery
 
flower; blossom; to spend; fancy pattern
trad. (走馬觀花) 走馬
simp. (走马观花) 走马
variant forms 走馬看花走马看花
Literally: “ride on horseback to see flowers”.

Etymology

From the story of Tang-dynasty poet Meng Jiao (孟郊) admiring flowers while riding on horseback, after his success in the imperial examinations at the age of 46. He composed the following poem at the time to express his joy:

昔日齷齪不足今朝放蕩無涯春風得意一日長安 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]
昔日龌龊不足今朝放荡无涯春风得意一日长安 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 796 CE, Meng Jiao, 《登科後》 (After Passing the Examination), translation from Scripture in Chinese Chengyu (2010) by James Beasley
Xīrì wòchuò bùzú kuā, jīnzhāo fàngdàng sī wúyá. Chūnfēng déyì tí jí, yīrì kàn jìn Cháng'ān huā. [Pinyin]
The reservations of yesterday are nothing to boast about;
Today, feeling unrestrained, my joy is boundless.
The spring breeze kisses my face as the horse picks up speed;
In one day I will see all the flowers and beauties of Chang'an.

Pronunciation


Idiom

走馬觀花

  1. (figuratively) to make a hurried and cursory observation; to gain only a superficial understanding of something

Synonyms

  • 蜻蜓點水蜻蜓点水

Antonyms

  • 鞭辟入裡鞭辟入里
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