刮目相看
guā mù xiāng kàn
Seeing with new eyes
When someone makes remarkable progress or shows significant improvement, others must change their previous perception of that person. It describes the act of viewing someone with renewed admiration or respect due to their positive transformation.
What does 刮目相看 (guā mù xiāng kàn) mean?
刮目相看 (guā mù xiāng kàn) means "seeing with new eyes" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "scrape one's eyes to look anew."
Character by character
- 刮 guā to scrape
- 目 mù eye
- 相 xiāng mutually
- 看 kàn to look
When to use it
Use this idiom to acknowledge a dramatic positive change in a person's abilities, behavior, or achievements. It implies that the person was previously underestimated or had a less favorable impression, and their current state demands a revised, more appreciative view.
Example
顽皮淘气的小强现在可是大有进步，使人刮目相看了。
Wánpí táoqì de xiǎoqiáng xiànzài kěshì dà yǒu jìnbù, shǐ rén guā mù xiāng kàn le.
The once naughty and mischievous Xiaoqiang has made such significant progress that people now look at him with new respect.
Pro tip: The 'scraping eyes' part metaphorically means clearing away old biases or outdated impressions. It emphasizes that the change in perception is due to the person's actual improvement, not just a sudden whim.
Related idioms
根深蒂固 · Deeply rooted foundation顾全大局 · Considering the overall situation海誓山盟 · Eternal love vows
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