📖 Meaning
Refers to an abundance of brilliant and memorable phrases in poetry and prose. The metaphor compares excellent lines to pearls strung together one by one. It praises literary works rich in wit, wisdom, and eloquence.
📜 Origin Story
From the Song dynasty poet Su Shi's (苏轼) poem '次韵答子由' (Replying to Ziyou in Matching Rhymes). The couplet reads '好语似珠穿一一，妄心如膜退重重' — good words like pearls strung one by one, deluded mind like a membrane retreating layer by layer. Su Shi wrote this to his younger brother Su Zhe (苏辙, courtesy name Ziyou), praising the wealth of fine phrases in their literary exchange while reflecting on spiritual cultivation. The idiom later came to describe writings filled with memorable and witty expressions.
💡 Example Usage
这篇文章好语似珠，令人读后回味无穷。
This essay is filled with brilliant phrases like strung pearls, leaving a lasting impression long after reading.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 好语似珠
- Pinyin: hǎo yǔ sì zhū
- Literal Translation: good, words, like, pearls
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4