📖 Meaning
The sound of footsteps heard in a deserted valley. A metaphor for something extremely rare and precious, especially long-awaited news, a kind word, or a visit from someone. It captures the thrill of receiving contact when one has been isolated.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase draws on imagery from two classical texts. The 'Book of Odes' (诗经·小雅·白驹) depicts a gleaming white horse standing in an empty valley. In the Zhuangzi (庄子·徐无鬼), the author writes of hearing someone's footsteps approach and feeling delighted. Combined, they express the joy of a rare encounter or message amid solitude, a sentiment later crystallized into the idiom by Qing-dynasty writers such as Ji Yun.
💡 Example Usage
久别之后收到他的来信，宛如空谷足音，令人欣喜万分。
After a long separation, receiving his letter was like hearing footsteps in an empty valley—a rare and thrilling delight.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 空谷足音
- Pinyin: kōng gǔ zú yīn
- Literal Translation: empty, valley, footstep, sound
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4