📖 Meaning
This idiom is a cryptic riddle (隐语) for the two characters "绝妙" (absolutely wonderful). In the riddle, "yellow silk" decomposes into 色丝 which combines into the character 绝, and "young woman" decomposes into 少女 which combines into the character 妙. It is used to praise writing or work as exquisitely done.
📜 Origin Story
The story is recorded in Liu Yiqing's "Shishuo Xinyu" (A New Account of the Tales of the World), chapter "Jiewu" (Quick Understanding), from the Southern Dynasties (Liu Song). The Han scholar Cai Yong inscribed eight characters—"黄绢幼妇，外孙齑臼"—on a stele. When the warlord Cao Cao and his advisor Yang Xiu passed by, Yang Xiu decoded it as a wordplay riddle: yellow silk (色丝) forms 绝, young woman (少女) forms 妙, daughter's son (女子) forms 好, and a mortar receiving spices (受辛) forms 辞, together reading "绝妙好辞" (exquisitely wonderful writing).
💡 Example Usage
先生的书法堪称黄卷幼妇，令观者无不叹服。
The gentleman's calligraphy is truly a masterpiece of exquisite artistry, leaving all who see it in admiration.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 黄卷幼妇
- Pinyin: huáng juàn yòu fù
- Literal Translation: yellow silk, young woman
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4