探驪得珠 tàn lí dé zhū

DEFINITIONS

  1. to pluck a pearl from the black dragon (idiom, from Zhuangzi); fig. to pick out the salient points (from a tangled situation)
  2. to see through to the nub

CHARACTERS

探 tàn
HSK 6
find, locate; search, grope for
驪 lí a pure black horse; a pair of horses
得 dé
HSK 2
obtain, get, gain, acquire
珠 zhū
HSK 6
precious stone, gem, jewel, pearl