只见树木不见森林

Traditional form:

只見樹木不見森林

Pinyin (reading):

zhǐjiànshùmùbùjiànsēnlín

Definitions:

• unable to see the wood for the trees
• fig. only able to see isolated details, and not the bigger picture

Characters:

• 只 - only, merely, just
• 见 - to see, to observe, to meet, to appear
• 树 - tree; to plant; to set up, to establish
• 木 - tree; wood, lumber; wooden
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 见 - to see, to observe, to meet, to appear
• 森 - forest; luxuriant vegetation
• 林 - forest, grove; surname

Traditional characters:

• 只 - only, merely, just
• 見 - to see, to observe, to meet, to appear
• 樹 - tree; to plant; to set up, to establish
• 木 - tree; wood, lumber; wooden
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 見 - to see, to observe, to meet, to appear
• 森 - forest; luxuriant vegetation
• 林 - forest, grove; surname