DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

切中要害

Mandarin · pinyin qiè zhòng yào hài

to hit the target and do real damage (idiom)
fig. to hit where it hurts
fig. to hit home
an argument that hits the nail on the head

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Characters in this entry

切: qiè · cut, mince, slice, carve
中: zhōng · central; center, middle; in the midst of; hit (target); attain
要: yào · necessary, essential; necessity
害: hài · injure, harm; destroy, kill

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4–4–4–4 · qie4 zhong4 yao4 hai4

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Compare dictionary sources 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

cit3 zung3 jiu3 hoi6

Cantonese word readings for 切中要害. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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