📖 Meaning
To use objects, events, or analogies to convey one's inner thoughts and aspirations. It describes the act of expressing one's heartfelt intentions through symbolic reference to external things rather than stating them directly.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the 'Book of Han' (《汉书》), in the biography of Jia Yi (贾谊), a renowned scholar and statesman of the Western Han dynasty. The passage states that a sage possesses an impenetrable fortress, '比物此志也' — meaning this is conveyed through metaphorical comparison. Jia Yi often used layered analogies in his political essays to express his aspirations and concerns for the state.
💡 Example Usage
他画竹比物此志，表达清高不屈的品格。
He paints bamboo as a vehicle for his inner aspirations, expressing a character of noble integrity and unyielding resolve.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 比物此志
- Pinyin: bǐ wù cǐ zhì
- Literal Translation: compare, thing, this, intention
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4