📖 Meaning
Originally referring to talented people from the State of Chu being employed by the State of Jin. It is now used as a metaphor for a country's or organization's talent draining away to work for another, benefiting a rival instead of its origin.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom comes from the Zuo Zhuan (左传·襄公二十六年), set in the Spring and Autumn period. When a Chu minister named Shengzi compared officials of Chu and Jin, he noted that while Jin lacked top ministers, its capable officers were all Chu material, like fine timber and leather flowing from Chu to Jin. He concluded: 'Though Chu has talent, Jin actually uses it.' The phrase became a lasting metaphor for domestic talent being put to work abroad.
💡 Example Usage
公司花重金培养的骨干纷纷跳槽到对手那里，简直是楚材晋用。
The key staff the company spent heavily to train have jumped ship to its rivals one after another — a clear case of talent being used by others.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 楚材晋用
- Pinyin: chǔ cái jìn yòng
- Literal Translation: Chu, talent, Jin, use
- Category: Status
- Characters: 4