📖 Meaning
Describes a beautiful and talented young woman from a wealthy, respectable family. The phrase emphasizes both refined upbringing and outstanding qualities of character and appearance, evoking the elegance expected of well-bred ladies of great households.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom appears in chapter 29 of 'Dream of the Red Chamber' (《红楼梦》), the Qing-dynasty masterpiece by Cao Xueqin (曹雪芹). In the scene, Grandmother Jia reflects on the girls she has seen at the homes of distant relatives and friends, remarking that none of those fine young ladies came close to the quality of Lin Daiyu. The line — '凡远亲近友之家，所见的那些闺英闱秀，皆未有稍及黛玉者' — gives the idiom its meaning of a superior, refined young lady of a distinguished family, celebrated through the novel's most admired heroine.
💡 Example Usage
她出身名门，琴棋书画样样精通，堪称闺英闱秀。
Born into a prestigious family and skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she can truly be called a refined young lady of a great household.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 闺英闱秀
- Pinyin: guī yīng wéi xiù
- Literal Translation: boudoir, outstanding, inner chamber, refined
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4