CHENGYU
刮目相看(guā mù xiāng kàn)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral
- Source:
- 《三国志·吴志·吕蒙传》注引《江表传》
MEANING
- Literal
- to wipe one's eyes and look again
- Figurative meaning
- to see someone in a new light after their progress
ORIGIN STORY
When the general Lü Meng transformed himself from a rough soldier into a learned strategist, his commander said: "After three days apart, one must look at a man with fresh eyes."
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“to see someone in a new light”
EXAMPLES
一年没见，他的进步真让人刮目相看。Yī nián méi jiàn, tā de jìnbù zhēn ràng rén guā mù xiāng kàn.HSK6
A year later, his progress really makes you look again.
这家公司的新产品令人刮目相看。Zhè jiā gōngsī de xīn chǎnpǐn lìng rén guā mù xiāng kàn.HSK6
This company's new product makes everyone look at it with fresh eyes.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: The change is for the better and surprises others — it is not about literal eye care.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01