丝丝入扣
sī sī rù kòu
flawlessly worked out; fitting together perfectly in every detail
Character by character
丝sī
thread
thread
丝sī
thread
thread
入rù
enter
enter
扣kòu
reed
reed
Example
这部小说情节丝丝入扣，直到最后一页才揭开真相。
The novel’s plot is flawlessly constructed, and the truth comes out only on the last page.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From weaving: 扣 stands for 筘 (kòu), the reed of a loom, and every warp thread must pass through it in order. Now said of plots, reasoning, performances and analysis: 分析得丝丝入扣, 表演丝丝入扣. The reading uses it of real threads, a play on that origin.
Learn this in Lesson 237 · HSK 9+: 苏绣 (Suzhou embroidery)
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.
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