📖 Meaning
Literally 'raising the eyes to see a thousand li.' It describes a vast, far-reaching field of vision where one can see great distances. Used metaphorically for broad perspective or wide-open, unobstructed views.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from a Song dynasty work, 'Songjiang Shaobian' (松江哨遍) by the scholar Liu Xueji (刘学箕). He depicted the landscape where the Songjiang River meets Lake Tai, writing that 'raising one's eyes, one can see a thousand li; the wind and waves are still, and the water surface is as flat as a whetstone.' The expression evokes the boundless, tranquil expanse of water under calm conditions.
💡 Example Usage
登上泰山之巅，举目千里，群山尽收眼底。
Reaching the summit of Mount Tai, one can see a thousand li at a glance, with all the mountains spread out below.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 举目千里
- Pinyin: jǔ mù qiān lǐ
- Literal Translation: raise, eye, thousand, li
- Category: Distance
- Characters: 4