水落石出

shuǐ luò shí chū

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Uncommon

Definitions

1. as the water recedes, the rocks appear (idiom)
2. the truth comes to light

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 瞒天过海 mán tiān guò hǎi 瞒天过海 mán tiān guò hǎi to cross the sea by a trick (idiom) 水落石出 is revealing truth, 瞒天过海 is concealing truth.: to cross the sea by a trick (idiom)

Related words

2 items

• 揭露 jiē lù 揭露 jiē lù to expose Related to exposing or revealing.: to expose
• 隐藏 yǐn cáng 隐藏 yǐn cáng to hide Opposite concept of hiding.: to hide

Synonyms

1 item

• 真相大白 zhēn xiàng dà bái 真相大白 zhēn xiàng dà bái the whole truth is revealed (idiom); everything becomes clear Both mean the truth becomes known.: the whole truth is revealed (idiom); everything becomes clear

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Don't use 水落石出 for daily clarifications like 'I found my keys'; it's for significant truths being revealed after investigation.

Formality

Often used in formal or narrative contexts, not casual conversation.

Example Sentences

1 shown

经过调查，真相终于 水落石出 。

After investigation, the truth finally came to light.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 水落石出

• 出 出 chū: to go out
• 水 水 shuǐ: water
• 落 落 là: to leave out
• 落 落 lào: colloquial reading for 落[luò] in certain compounds
• 落 落 luò: to fall or drop
• 石 石 dàn: dry measure for grain equal to ten dou 斗[dǒu]; one hundred liters
• 石 石 shí: rock
• 落石 落石 luò shí: falling stone