📖 Meaning
The idiom describes a scene where everywhere one looks, there are signs of devastation and destruction. It is used to depict the aftermath of war, natural disasters, or other calamities. The phrase conveys a sense of widespread suffering and ruin visible in all directions.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from a poem by the Tang dynasty poet Du Fu (杜甫), specifically from his poem Northern Expedition (《北征》). In the poem, Du Fu wrote 乾坤含疮痍，忧虞何时毕, meaning 'Heaven and earth are filled with wounds and sores; when will this sorrow and worry ever end?' Du Fu composed this poem during the An Lushan Rebellion while traveling north to rejoin the emperor, reflecting his deep anguish over the war-torn nation. Over time, the phrase evolved into the standalone idiom 满目疮痍, used to describe scenes of widespread devastation.
💡 Example Usage
台风过后，沿海小镇满目疮痍，到处都是倒塌的房屋。
After the typhoon passed, the coastal town was a scene of devastation, with collapsed houses everywhere.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 满目疮痍
- Pinyin: mǎn mù chuāng yí
- Literal Translation: full, eyes, wounds, sores
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4