望文生義 wàng wén shēng yì

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. view a text and interpret (idiom); to interpret word by word without understanding the meaning
  2. a far-fetched interpretation

CHARACTERS

望 wàng
HSK 2
to look at, look forward; to hope, expect
文 wén
HSK 3
literature, culture, writing
生 shēng
HSK 1
life, living, lifetime; birth
義 yì right conduct, righteousness