只見樹木不見森林 zhǐ jiàn shù mù bù jiàn sēn lín

focus on details, miss the big picture

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. only able to see isolated details, and not the bigger picture
  2. 2. unable to see the wood for the trees

Characters

Character Meaning
只 zhǐ HSK 3
only; just; merely
見 jiàn
to see; to meet; to appear (to be sth)
樹 shù
tree; to set up; to cultivate
木 mù HSK 5
tree; wood; wooden
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
見 jiàn
to see; to meet; to appear (to be sth)
森 sēn HSK 4
forest; Mori (Japanese surname)
林 lín HSK 4
woods; forest; surname Lin