📖 Meaning
Literally 'hands and eyes reaching to heaven,' this idiom is a metaphor for someone with extraordinary connections and scheming ability, capable of pulling strings and getting things done through powerful or influential channels. It emphasizes cunning resourcefulness and exceptional maneuvering skills that go beyond ordinary means.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the modern Chinese novel 'Four Generations Under One Roof' (四世同堂) by the famous 20th-century author Lao She, rather than from an ancient dynasty or historical figure. In the novel, a character reflects that it is not her husband's ability she trusts, but her own 'hand-eye reaching to heaven' — that is, her own extraordinary resourcefulness and knack for getting things done. The phrase was coined to capture the scheming, well-connected nature of certain people, and has since become a common expression in modern Chinese.
💡 Example Usage
他在这个圈子里手眼通天，什么事都能摆平。
He has extraordinary connections in this circle and can smooth over just about anything.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 手眼通天
- Pinyin: shǒu yǎn tōng tiān
- Literal Translation: hand, eye, reach through, heaven
- Category: Power
- Characters: 4