NetChai Chinese

What Does 一手遮天 (yī shǒu zhē tiān) Mean?

一手遮天
yī shǒu zhē tiān
Abusing power to deceive
A powerful figure dismisses evidence held by a subordinate, illustrating “abusing power to deceive” in Chinese: 一手遮天 (yī shǒu zhē tiān)

Wielding immense power, someone can conceal the truth and mislead others. It refers to an individual or group manipulating facts to maintain control or hide wrongdoing. This often involves suppressing information or silencing dissent.

What does 一手遮天 (yī shǒu zhē tiān) mean?

一手遮天 (yī shǒu zhē tiān) means "abusing power to deceive" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "one hand covers the sky."

Character by character

  • 一 yī one
  • 手 shǒu hand
  • 遮 zhē cover
  • 天 tiān sky

When to use it

Often used to criticize powerful figures or organizations that exploit their authority to obscure reality. It carries a strong negative connotation, implying corruption and deceit. This idiom is not typically used in lighthearted or informal contexts.

Example

他仗着自己的权势一手遮天。
Tā zhàng zhe zìjǐ de quánshì yī shǒu zhē tiān.
He acts arbitrarily, relying on his own power.
Pro tip: The idiom highlights the extreme difficulty of hiding something as vast as the sky, emphasizing that while a powerful person attempts to obscure everything, their actions are ultimately a blatant abuse of power.

Related idioms

一口咬定 · Firm assertion一模一样 · Exact same appearance一五一十 · Full detailed account

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