Catch Phrase | 灯下黑(dēngxiàhēi)

Writer: Debra Li  |  Editor: Stephanie Yang  |  From: Shenzhen Daily  |  Updated: 2020-08-11

Meaning:

“灯下” means “under the light,” and “黑” means “dark.” Translated as “under the light but in the dark,” this term is used as a metaphor to refer to the scenario where people tend to neglect the most obvious things. Sometimes, it is used to refer to the situation where officers working with crime-fighting authorities have committed crimes themselves. Some also use it to warn people against enemies lurking nearby or posing as allies.

Example:

A: 听说你姐要结婚了,谁运气那么好?

Tīngshuō nǐjiě yào jiéhūn le,shuí yùnqì nàme hǎo?

I’ve heard that your elder sister is getting married. Who’s the lucky guy?

B: 是她高中同学,多年的好朋友,忽然有一天发现他俩情投意合挺合适。

Shì tā gāozhōng tóngxué,duōnián de hǎopéngyou,hūrán yǒu yītiān fāxiàn tāliǎ qíngtóu yìhé tǐng héshì。

He’s her high school classmate, a friend for many years. One day it suddenly occurred to them that they are kindred souls and could be soul mates.

A: 真是典型的灯下黑。

Zhēnshì diǎnxíng de dēngxiàhēi。

That was a typical case of not seeing the obvious.