📖 Meaning
Literally meaning to apply ink at the major points. Originally referring to the practice in painting or writing of concentrating effort on the most important parts. It is used metaphorically to mean handling matters with an eye on the big picture, focusing on what truly matters rather than minor details.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Qing dynasty novel 'Guanchang Xianxing Ji' (Revelations of Officialdom) by Li Baojia, Chapter 20. In the story, a character praises another for knowing how to spend money lavishly, calling him someone who 'applies ink at the big places' — a person who acts on a grand scale and focuses on major matters rather than petty concerns. The phrase draws on the artistic metaphor of a painter concentrating brushstrokes where they matter most.
💡 Example Usage
做战略规划应当大处落墨，把握全局方向。
When making strategic plans, one should focus on the big picture and grasp the overall direction.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 大处落墨
- Pinyin: dà chù luò mò
- Literal Translation: big, place, apply, ink
- Category: Method
- Characters: 4