Chinese Idiom: 囫囵吞枣 (Hu Lun Tun Zao)
English Translation: Swallowing jujubes whole
pīn yīn: hú lún tūn zǎo
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes the act of consuming something without careful consideration or analysis. It suggests a lack of discernment or thoughtfulness in understanding a situation or concept.
Historical Source: Zhu Xi’s Response to Xu Shun (宋代朱熹的《答许顺之书》).
Idiom Story:
In ancient times, a person made a statement regarding the benefits of eating fruits. He mentioned that eating pears was good for one’s teeth, but excessive consumption could harm the spleen. In contrast, he noted that while jujubes (dates) were beneficial for the spleen, overeating them could be detrimental to dental health.
After listening to this, one person pondered aloud, “If I only chew pears and don’t swallow them, will that still harm my spleen? And if I swallow jujubes whole without chewing, won’t that protect my teeth?”
Another young man, overhearing this conversation, jokingly remarked, “Aren’t you just swallowing jujubes whole?” This playful banter elicited laughter from those present.
From this story, the idiom “囫囵吞枣” emerged, highlighting the folly of approaching knowledge or experiences without proper thought or analysis.
