The New Dictionary.
Search dictionary
Chinese/Dictionary entry

恍然大悟

huǎng rán dà wùdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
(idiom) to suddenly realize / to suddenly see the light
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-832658c278398871. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

恍然大悟 恍然大悟 [huang3 ran2 da4 wu4] /(idiom) to suddenly realize; to suddenly see the light/

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.

  • 恍
    huǎng

    (bound form) in a hazy state of mind / (bound form) to snap out of that state / used in 恍如[huǎng rú] and 恍若[huǎng ruò]

  • 然
    rán

    correct / right / so / thus / like this / -ly

  • 大
    dà

    big / large / great / older (than another person) / eldest (as in 大姐[dà jiě]) / greatly / freely / fully / (dialect) father / (dialect) uncle (father's brother)

    dài

    see 大夫[dài fu]

  • 悟
    wù

    to comprehend / to apprehend / to become aware

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.