开门见山
kāi mén jiàn shān
Direct to the point · trad. 開門見山
Starting a discussion directly without beating around the bush is the core meaning. It describes communication that is straightforward and gets right to the main topic. This approach is valued for its clarity and efficiency.
What does 开门见山 (kāi mén jiàn shān) mean?
开门见山 (kāi mén jiàn shān) means "direct to the point" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "open the door, see the mountain."
Character by character
- 开 kāi open
- 门 mén door
- 见 jiàn see
- 山 shān mountain
When to use it
Use this idiom to describe a way of speaking or writing that is frank and immediate, avoiding lengthy introductions or unnecessary details. It is generally positive, suggesting efficiency and honesty in communication. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts when directness is appreciated.
Example
这篇文章开门见山点明了主旨。
Zhè piānwénzhāng kāi mén jiàn shān diǎnmíng le zhǔzhǐ.
This article gets straight to the point, clearly stating its main theme.
Pro tip: The idiom emphasizes the immediacy of getting to the main topic, like opening a door and immediately seeing a mountain. It implies no detours or preamble.
Related idioms
举手之劳 · Small effort task举一反三 · Inferring from one example口是心非 · Verbal hypocrisy
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