Chinese idiom · 成语
一叶障目
Meaning
One leaf blocks the eyes; to miss the big picture.
Character by character
Origin and story
Philosophical analogyThe Tian Ze chapter of the Heguanzi places two examples side by side: a leaf covering the eyes prevents a person from seeing Mount Tai, while beans blocking the ears prevent the sound of thunder from being heard. The contrast is deliberately striking. Something small and close at hand can interrupt access to something much larger or louder.
The text uses 一叶蔽目, often followed by 不见太山; 一叶障目 is a familiar related form. In modern use, the obstruction may be a prejudice, a misleading detail, or an immediate concern that hides the overall situation. The classical passage supplies an analogy, not the biography of a named person holding a leaf.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
不能因为一次差评就一叶障目，还要看看其他顾客的具体经历。
We shouldn't let one bad review obscure the whole picture; we should also look at other customers' actual experiences.
Warns against letting a partial impression block a broader assessment.