JLPT N1Four-character idioms
画竜点睛
- Meaning
- 物事を完成させる最後の大切な仕上げ
- Explanation
- "画竜点睛" comes from a tale in which a painter drew a dragon and, dotting in the pupils (睛) last, the dragon rose to the heavens; it refers to the most crucial finishing touch that completes something. It is often used in the form "画竜点睛を欠く", meaning the vital finishing touch is missing so the whole thing does not come alive. Note that c4 is merely a literal explanation, and it is the exact opposite of c3's "obsessing over details and losing sight of the whole".
Original Japanese explanation
「画竜点睛」は、絵師が竜を描き最後に睛（ひとみ）を点じると竜が天に昇ったという故事から、物事を完成させる最も肝心な仕上げをいう。多くは「画竜点睛を欠く」の形で、肝心の仕上げが足りず全体が生きない意で使う。c4 は字面の説明にすぎず、c3 の「細部にこだわり全体を見失う」とは正反対の意味なので注意。
Quick check
Choose the most appropriate meaning of "画竜点睛".
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