对号入座
duì hào rù zuò
to see oneself in a description; to take a remark personally
Character by character
对duì
match
match
号hào
number
number
入rù
enter
enter
座zuò
seat
seat
Example
这篇文章批评的是一种现象，并没有针对谁，大家不必对号入座。
The article criticises a trend and isn’t aimed at anyone, so nobody need take it personally.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Literally to sit in the seat that matches the number on your ticket, as at a cinema. Now mostly figurative: to read a general description, a horoscope or a criticism as being about yourself. 别对号入座 is the everyday “don’t take it personally”.
Learn this in Lesson 249 · HSK 9+: i人还是e人 (Introvert or extrovert?)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →