来龙去脉

• Pinyin: lái lóng qù mài
• Hanzi breakdown: 来龙 = incoming dragon (mountain range approaching); 去脉 = outgoing vein (mountain range departing)

Meaning

The ins and outs; the whole story from beginning to end.

An idiom meaning the complete sequence of cause and effect. Used when explaining or asking about how something developed over time, including all relevant context and background.

Examples

1. 你能把这件事的来龙去脉给我讲清楚吗？ Can you explain the whole story of this matter to me clearly?
2. 警察正在调查案件的来龙去脉。 The police are investigating the full sequence of events in the case.
3. 了解来龙去脉之后，我才明白他为什么那样做。 After understanding the whole story, I finally understood why he did that.

Usage Guide

Context: explanation, investigation, storytelling

Tone: inquiring

Do Say

• 先把来龙去脉说清楚。(First explain the whole story clearly.)
• 事情的来龙去脉很复杂。(The ins and outs of this matter are very complex.)

Don't Say

• 用来龙去脉描述简单明了的事情。(来龙去脉 implies complexity — don't use for simple, straightforward matters)

Origin & History

From feng shui terminology. Originally described the course of mountain ranges (like a dragon's body), later extended to mean the full sequence of events.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal