<p>一语 = in one sentence or one word (<em>imply: 'directly and swiftly'</em>)</p>

<p>道破 = pointing out/ expose (<em>speak out and expose something that's hidden</em>)</p>

<p>一语道破 can be described as "directly (and swiftly) pointing out" in English</p>

<p>Example:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>道破他的詭計 =  speak out and expose his trickery</p></li>
<li><p>道破他的用心 =  pointing out his intention</p></li>
<li><p>一语道破他的詭計 = directly (and swiftly) pointing out his trickery</p></li>
<li><p>一语道破他的用心 = directly (and swiftly) pointing out his intention</p></li>
</ul>

<p>“一语道破天机” is not a proper sentence, because '天机' (heaven's secret/ plan) is not something you can easily find out.  </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-30T03:38:24.493Z
一语道破天机 is a common metaphor, you can't take it literally at all.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-30T04:39:36.643Z
一语道破 and 天机不可洩漏 are both common phrases, but not together
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-30T05:06:16.390Z
try to make a little search on 一语道破天机, and you would get lots of examples and explainations.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-30T05:13:36.057Z
garbage in, garbage out, Someone mixed up 一语道破 and 天机不可洩漏 , someone else tried to make sense of it , then  someone else copied these so call answers and they all became search results
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-30T05:21:37.510Z
I knew 一语道破天机 since I was a little boy. It's actually very common. You could take anything people are saying as garbage if you wish. That's it.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-30T05:22:20.867Z
Internet search results are not always correct, Sometimes a movies or TV. show using a common phrase as title, and you can't find the real meaning of that common phrase anymore, sometimes a famous people misuse an idiom, and people would think the wrong meaning is legit--My advice is use some independent thinking when reviewing the so call 'answers'
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-30T05:25:11.900Z
It's actually very common? I lived for 50+ years, read hundred of thousands of articles , not to mention countless movies and TV and I've never seen anyone mix these two phrase like this
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-30T05:31:37.037Z
Maybe, it's regional and also depends on what kind of stuff you have read. I personally read and heard a lot of it, TV, movie, newspaper, and pretty much everywhere.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-29T15:29:54.330Z
2018-10-29T15:54:38.960Z
2018-10-29T15:54:38.960Z
Tang Ho
<p>i would suggest "freudian slip"</p>

<p>if it's fate, destiny related, maybe "oracle slip", or "divine slip"</p>

<p>in which slip referred to the "一語"</p>

<p>have fun :)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-29T15:06:59.517Z
No, "freudian slip" (an unintentional error regarded as revealing subconscious feelings) it means someone carelessly mention something that should be kept secret. It is  called 說漏嘴
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-29T13:17:00.230Z
2018-10-29T13:17:00.230Z
水巷孑蠻
<p>I want translate "一语道破" or "一语道破天机" to a phase with an etymology.</p>

<p>tell the truth, blurts out the whole truth, </p>

<p>seem not very good.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-30T03:43:28.677Z
It's not "blurt out", but "get the exact point" of something. It's pretty close to the phrase: "hit the nail (right) on the head" in English. Perhaps not that exactly, but the underlying connotation is similar.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-30T05:32:43.090Z
'hit the nail on the head'  is '一矢中的' in Chinese, meaning  'find exactly the right answer'
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-30T05:38:05.377Z
@TangHo, It's a figure of speech. It could be extended more than that. *state the truth exactly; find exactly the right answer; and etc.*
dan
<translation>
How could I translate "一语道破", "一语道破天机"
# How could I translate "一语道破", "一语道破天机"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-10-29)

I want translate "一语道破" or "一语道破天机" to a phase with an etymology.

tell the truth, blurts out the whole truth,

seem not very good.

**Tags:** translation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It's not "blurt out", but "get the exact point" of something. It's pretty close to the phrase: "hit the nail (right) on the head" in English. Perhaps not that exactly, but the underlying connotation is similar.  
> **username_2**: 'hit the nail on the head'  is '一矢中的' in Chinese, meaning  'find exactly the right answer'  
> **username_1**: @TangHo, It's a figure of speech. It could be extended more than that. *state the truth exactly; find exactly the right answer; and etc.*  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-10-29. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

一语 = in one sentence or one word (*imply: 'directly and swiftly'*)

道破 = pointing out/ expose (*speak out and expose something that's hidden*)

一语道破 can be described as "directly (and swiftly) pointing out" in English

Example:

* 道破他的詭計 = speak out and expose his trickery
* 道破他的用心 = pointing out his intention
* 一语道破他的詭計 = directly (and swiftly) pointing out his trickery
* 一语道破他的用心 = directly (and swiftly) pointing out his intention

“一语道破天机” is not a proper sentence, because '天机' (heaven's secret/ plan) is not something you can easily find out.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 一语道破天机 is a common metaphor, you can't take it literally at all.  
> **username_2**: 一语道破 and 天机不可洩漏 are both common phrases, but not together  
> **username_1**: try to make a little search on 一语道破天机, and you would get lots of examples and explainations.  
> **username_2**: garbage in, garbage out, Someone mixed up 一语道破 and 天机不可洩漏 , someone else tried to make sense of it , then  someone else copied these so call answers and they all became search results  
> **username_1**: I knew 一语道破天机 since I was a little boy. It's actually very common. You could take anything people are saying as garbage if you wish. That's it.  
> **username_2**: Internet search results are not always correct, Sometimes a movies or TV. show using a common phrase as title, and you can't find the real meaning of that common phrase anymore, sometimes a famous people misuse an idiom, and people would think the wrong meaning is legit--My advice is use some independent thinking when reviewing the so call 'answers'  
> **username_2**: It's actually very common? I lived for 50+ years, read hundred of thousands of articles , not to mention countless movies and TV and I've never seen anyone mix these two phrase like this  
> **username_1**: Maybe, it's regional and also depends on what kind of stuff you have read. I personally read and heard a lot of it, TV, movie, newspaper, and pretty much everywhere.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-10-29. Score: 0

i would suggest "freudian slip"

if it's fate, destiny related, maybe "oracle slip", or "divine slip"

in which slip referred to the "一語"

have fun :)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: No, "freudian slip" (an unintentional error regarded as revealing subconscious feelings) it means someone carelessly mention something that should be kept secret. It is  called 說漏嘴  

---

