来龙去脉

• 拼音: lái lóng qù mài
• 汉字拆解: 来龙 = incoming dragon (mountain range approaching); 去脉 = outgoing vein (mountain range departing)

含义

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.

例句

1. 你能把这件事的来龙去脉给我讲清楚吗？
2. 警察正在调查案件的来龙去脉。
3. 了解来龙去脉之后，我才明白他为什么那样做。

用法指南

语境: explanation, investigation, storytelling

语气: inquiring

正确说法

• 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.)

错误说法

• 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)

起源与历史

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.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal