画龙点睛huà lóng diǎn jīngto add the vital finishing touch

1. 1.

   to add the vital finishing touchidiom

2. 2.

   the crucial point that brings the subject to lifeidiom

3. 3.

   a few words to clinch the pointidiom

Figurative meaning

To add the vital finishing touch; the crucial point that brings the subject to life.

Literal meaning

To paint a dragon and dot in the eyes.

• 画to draw; to paint
• 龙Chinese dragon; loong
• 点to mark with a dot; to check off (on a list)
• 睛eye; eyeball

The story

In a moment, thunder and lightning broke the wall, and two of the painted dragons rode the clouds up into the sky, while the two dragons whose eyes had not been dotted remained.

画龙点睛 is often used to praise a small detail or final line in writing, art, or a speech.

1. HSK 4

   最后这个句子很好，有画龙点睛的作用。

   Zuìhòu zhège jùzi hěn hǎo, yǒu huà lóng diǎn jīng de zuòyòng.

   This last sentence is great; it adds the vital finishing touch.

2. HSK 4

   你在这里加一个词，就有画龙点睛的效果。

   Nǐ zài zhèlǐ jiā yí ge cí, jiù yǒu huà lóng diǎn jīng de xiàoguǒ.

   If you add one word here, it will bring the whole thing to life.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   你看看我写的文章，怎么样？

   Nǐ kànkan wǒ xiě de wénzhāng, zěnmeyàng?

   Take a look at my essay. What do you think?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   很好，就是最后有点儿平。

   Hěn hǎo, jiùshì zuìhòu yǒudiǎnr píng.

   It's good, but the ending is a bit flat.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   那我改一下最后一句。

   Nà wǒ gǎi yíxià zuìhòu yí jù.

   Then I'll change the last sentence.

4. 
   Speaker B:

   好，一句好话可以画龙点睛。

   Hǎo, yí jù hǎo huà kěyǐ huà lóng diǎn jīng.

   Good. One great line can add the vital finishing touch.

1. 1.What does 画龙点睛 mean?

   ATo add the vital finishing touchBTo draw a picture of an animalCTo close one's eyes
2. 2.Which sentence uses 画龙点睛 correctly?

   A最后这个句子很好，有画龙点睛的作用。B他画龙点睛地跑步。C今天天气很画龙点睛。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 加这一句，有____的效果。 (Adding this line gives the vital finishing touch.)

   A画龙点睛B四面楚歌C马到成功

• Free HSK 3 level testSee which HSK 3.0 level your vocabulary matches.
• HSK 7–9 word listEvery word at this level, with examples.
• HSK 3.0 guideHow the nine levels and three bands work.

Related idioms

• 画蛇添足huà shé tiān zúto ruin the effect by adding something superfluousHSK 7–9
• 叶公好龙yè gōng hào lóngto pretend to be fond of sth while actually fearing itNot on the HSK 3.0 syllabus
• 一举两得yì jǔ liǎng détwo birds with one stoneHSK 7–9
• 一如既往yì rú jì wǎng(idiom) just as in the past; as before; continuing as alwaysHSK 7–9
• 一目了然yí mù liǎo ránobvious at a glance (idiom)HSK 7–9
• 不可思议bù kě sī yìinconceivable; unimaginable; unfathomableHSK 7–9

Browse every entry in the Chinese idioms dictionary.