當頭棒喝

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Chinese

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right on someone's head; overhead; head on
right on someone's head; overhead; head on; in someone's face; directly
 
to receive a blow with a stick or a yell by his master to bring about instant realization or awakening
trad. (當頭棒喝) 當頭 棒喝
simp. (当头棒喝) 当头 棒喝

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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當頭棒喝

  1. (Buddhism, of a novice monk) to receive a blow with a stick or a yell by his master to bring about instant realization or awakening
  2. (figurative) stern warning; wake-up call