📖 Meaning
This idiom describes someone with a brilliant and elegant mind, whose literary talent is as beautiful and intricate as woven brocade and embroidery. It praises a person's exceptional intelligence and refined literary sensibility. The metaphor suggests that even one's inner thoughts are ornately beautiful.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from Ming Dynasty writer Feng Menglong's collection 'Jingshi Tongyan' (警世通言), specifically in Volume 17. The original context describes a situation where someone observes that a young man from another region, given his dissolute appearance, would not be believed or hired by anyone even if he possessed a brilliant and talented mind. The phrase thus contrasts outward appearance with inner literary gifts, emphasizing how superficial judgments can overlook genuine talent.
💡 Example Usage
这位作家锦心绣肠，笔下文章字字珠玑，令人叹服。
This writer has a brilliant and elegant mind; every word in their prose is a gem, leaving readers in awe.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 锦心绣肠
- Pinyin: jǐn xīn xiù cháng
- Literal Translation: brocade heart, embroidered intestines
- Category: Wisdom
- Characters: 4