只见树木不见森林 zhǐ jiàn shù mù bù jiàn sēn lín

only see details; miss the big picture

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 74520th word

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
见 jiàn HSK 1
to see; to meet; to appear (to be sth)
树 shù HSK 3
tree; to set up; to cultivate
木 mù HSK 5
tree; wood; wooden
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
见 jiàn HSK 1
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