头头是道
tóu tóu shì dào
clear and logical; making perfect sense
Character by character
头tóu
every
every
头tóu
thing
thing
是shì
is
is
道dào
the Way
the Way
Example
他讲起足球来头头是道，可自己一上场就不行了。
He talks about football with perfect logic, but put him on the pitch and he’s hopeless.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From Chan Buddhist sayings, where it meant the Way is present in everything. Now praise for an explanation that is clear point by point: 说得头头是道, 分析得头头是道. Often followed by a twist: the speaker does less well in practice.
Learn this in Lesson 227 · HSK 9+: 辩论的艺术 (The art of debate)
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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