📖 Meaning
To deliberately enhance or magnify people's visual and auditory impressions, typically through grand spectacle or ostentatious display. It often carries a critical undertone, suggesting the impression created is superficial rather than substantive.
📜 Origin Story
From the Ming dynasty story collection 'Stories to Awaken the World' (醒世恒言) by Feng Menglong, in the tale 'Li Daoren Walks Alone to Yunmen.' The passage discusses the ancient Feng and Shan sacrificial ceremonies performed by rulers at Mount Tai. It notes that while seventy-nine rulers before the Xia dynasty, along with Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han, all performed these grand rites, they were not necessarily virtuous rulers. The ceremonies merely served to whitewash the appearance of peace and awe the public with grand spectacles—hence '侈人观听.'
💡 Example Usage
这些排场不过是为了侈人观听，并无实际意义。
These ostentatious displays are merely to impress people's senses, with no real substance behind them.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 侈人观听
- Pinyin: chǐ rén guān tīng
- Literal Translation: magnify, people, sight, hearing
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4