图穷匕见
tú qióng bǐ xiàn
the real intent shows itself at the last moment
Character by character
图tú
map
map
穷qióng
comes to its end
comes to its end
匕bǐ
dagger
dagger
见xiàn
appears
appears
Example
谈到最后，对方图穷匕见，提出了真正的要求。
At the very end of the talks the other side showed its hand and made its real demand.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
荆轲 hid a dagger in a rolled map to kill the king of Qin. 见 is read xiàn.
Learn this in Lesson 76 · HSK 6–7: 秦始皇与大一统 (The First Emperor)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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