囫圇吞棗

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word 囫圇吞棗. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word 囫圇吞棗, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say 囫圇吞棗 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word 囫圇吞棗 you have here. The definition of the word 囫圇吞棗 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of囫圇吞棗, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

Chinese

complete; whole; sweeping and vague to swallow; to take jujube
trad. (囫圇吞棗) 囫圇 吞 棗
simp. (囫囵吞枣) 囫囵 吞 枣
alternative forms 渾崙吞棗／浑仑吞枣
鶻崙吞棗／鹘仑吞枣
Literally: “to swallow a jujube whole”.

Etymology

From a story in the Blue Cliff Record (《碧巖錄》):

若是知有底人，細嚼來嚥；若是不知有底人，一似渾崙吞箇棗。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
若是知有底人，细嚼来咽；若是不知有底人，一似浑仑吞个枣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Ruòshì zhī yǒu de rén, xì jué lái yān; ruòshì bùzhī yǒu de rén, yīsì húnlún tūn gè zǎo.
Those who know the ins and outs will chew and swallow it slowly and carefully; those who don't will act like swallowing a jujube whole.

Pronunciation

Idiom

囫圇吞棗

  1. (figurative) to accept without thinking; to read without understanding

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (囫圇吞棗):
  • → Korean: 홀륜탄조(囫圇呑棗) (hollyuntanjo)
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia