📖 Meaning
A flaw on a white jade tablet. It is a metaphor for a person or thing that is generally excellent but has some minor shortcomings. The expression emphasizes that the imperfection is small relative to the overall quality.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the 'Book of Songs' (诗经), specifically the 'Daya' section in the poem 'Yi' (抑), dating to the Western Zhou dynasty. The original lines read: 'A blemish on a white jade tablet can still be polished away; but a blemish in one's words cannot be undone.' The passage serves as a warning to be cautious with one's speech, as spoken errors cannot be retracted. Over time, the phrase came to symbolize minor flaws in an otherwise admirable person or thing.
💡 Example Usage
这部作品虽有小瑕疵，不过是白圭之玷，并不影响其整体价值。
Though this work has minor flaws, they are merely a blemish on a jade tablet and do not affect its overall value.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 白圭之玷
- Pinyin: bái guī zhī diàn
- Literal Translation: white, jade tablet, 's, blemish
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4