顾全大局
gù quán dà jú
Considering the overall situation · trad. 顧全大局
Prioritizing the collective good or long-term interests is the core meaning. It means to think about the overall situation and put its needs above personal or minor considerations.
What does 顾全大局 (gù quán dà jú) mean?
顾全大局 (gù quán dà jú) means "considering the overall situation" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "consider the entire big picture."
Character by character
- 顾 gù consider, look after
- 全 quán complete, preserve
- 大 dà big, great
- 局 jú situation, overall scheme
When to use it
Use this idiom when someone makes a personal sacrifice or compromises for the benefit of a larger group, organization, or a more important cause. It implies a sense of responsibility and selflessness.
Example
为了顾全大局,他放弃了自己的方案。
Wèile gù quán dà jú, tā fàngqì le zìjǐ de fāngàn.
To consider the bigger picture, he gave up his own plan.
Pro tip: Often implies a difficult decision or personal sacrifice made for the greater good. The focus is on the act of considering and preserving the overall situation, not just understanding it.
Related idioms
高高在上 · Lofty and arrogant detachment根深蒂固 · Deeply rooted foundation刮目相看 · Seeing with new eyes
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