📖 Meaning
Describes something so brilliantly radiant and sparkling that it captivates and dazzles the eyes. It is used both literally, for gems, lights, or decorations that shine with exceptional brilliance, and metaphorically, for outstanding achievements, talent, or anything of extraordinary splendor.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom first appears in 'Wulin Jiushi' (武林旧事), a memoir by Zhou Mi (周密) of the Southern Song Dynasty, recording the splendor of the former capital Lin'an. In Volume 3, Zhou Mi describes a grand imperial banquet where attendees wore jade belts and displayed pearls the size of cups, noting that the treasures were so brilliant they 'dazzled the eyes' (璀璨夺目). The phrase crystallized into a set idiom used to praise anything of breathtaking radiance.
💡 Example Usage
她脖子上那条钻石项链在灯光下璀璨夺目。
The diamond necklace around her neck was dazzlingly brilliant under the lights.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 璀璨夺目
- Pinyin: cuǐ càn duó mù
- Literal Translation: glittering, brilliant, dazzle, eye
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4