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走马观花

zǒu mǎ guān huādictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
lit. flower viewing from horseback (idiom); a fleeting glance in passing / fig. superficial understanding from cursory observation / to make a quick judgment based on inadequate information
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-48a34a23224f55cf. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

走馬觀花 走马观花 [zou3 ma3 guan1 hua1] /lit. flower viewing from horseback (idiom); a fleeting glance in passing/fig. superficial understanding from cursory observation/to make a quick judgment based on inadequate information/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 走馬觀花

  • 走
    zǒu

    to walk / to go / to run / to move (of vehicle) / to visit / to leave / to go away / to die (euph.) / from / through / away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走[chè zǒu]) / to change (shape, form, meaning)

  • 马
    mǎ

    horse / CL:匹[pǐ] / horse or cavalry piece in Chinese chess / knight in Western chess

    Mǎ

    surname Ma / abbr. for Malaysia 馬來西亞|马来西亚[Mǎ lái xī yà]

  • 观
    guān

    to look at / to watch / to observe / to behold / to advise / concept / point of view / outlook

    guàn

    Taoist monastery / palace gate watchtower / platform

    Guàn

    surname Guan

  • 花
    huā

    flower / blossom / CL:朵[duǒ],支[zhī],束[shù],把[bǎ],盆[pén],簇[cù] / fancy pattern / florid / to spend (money, time) / (coll.) lecherous / lustful / also pr. [wěi]

    Huā

    surname Hua

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.