抽丝剥茧

Traditional form:

抽絲剝繭

Pinyin (reading):

chōusībōjiǎn

Definitions:

• lit. to unwind the silk thread from the cocoon (idiom)
• fig. to unravel a mystery; to painstakingly follow the clues to eventually get to the bottom of the matter

Characters:

• 抽 - to draw out, to pull out; to sprout
• 丝 - silk, fine thread; wire; strings
• 剥 - to peel, to skin; to exploit
• 茧 - cocoon; callus, blister

Traditional characters:

• 抽 - to draw out, to pull out; to sprout
• 絲 - silk, fine thread; wire; strings
• 剝 - to peel, to skin; to exploit
• 繭 - cocoon; callus, blister