Definition
囫囵 is almost exclusively used in the idiom 囫囵吞枣 (húlún tūn zǎo), which literally means 'to swallow a date whole' and figuratively means 'to read or learn without understanding, to take in superficially'. The standalone meaning 'whole, entire' is rare in modern Chinese. As a verb phrase (v.p.), it functions adverbially before the verb 吞 in the idiom, describing the manner of swallowing. You will not encounter 囫囵 outside of this idiom in everyday speech.
v.p.
wholeentire (rare standalone use)(in 囫囵吞枣) without understandingsuperficially
Examples
- 囫囵，。Tā dúshū zǒngshì hú lún tūn zǎo, bù qiú shèn jiě.He always reads books superficially without seeking deep understanding.
- 囫囵，。Xuéxí bù néng hú lún tūn zǎo, yào mànmàn xiāohuà.Learning cannot be done superficially; you need to digest it slowly.
- 囫囵，。Zhè piān wénzhāng wǒ hú lún tūn zǎo de kàn le yí biàn, méi jìzhù shénme.I skimmed through this article without understanding it and didn't remember anything.
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