📖 Meaning
The entire course of events from beginning to end, along with the underlying causes and reasons. It refers to a complete account of how a matter unfolded and why it happened. A variant of 始末缘由.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase appears in Qing dynasty literature, notably in Cao Xueqin's 'Dream of the Red Chamber' (Chapter 37), where Baoyu explains the full sequence of events to Shi Xiangyun upon her arrival. It also appears in Shi Yukun's 'The Three Heroes and Five Gallants' (Chapter 117), where the character Zhi Hua recounts the complete truth of a matter without concealment. The expression combines 始末 (the whole process from start to finish) with 原由 (the cause or reason behind it).
💡 Example Usage
老管家将此事的始末原由一一禀告了老爷。
The old steward reported the entire sequence of events and their causes to the master in full detail.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 始末原由
- Pinyin: shǐ mò yuán yóu
- Literal Translation: beginning, end, cause, reason
- Category: Clarity
- Characters: 4