📖 Meaning
Describes the act of rhythmically striking a vessel while chanting verses to give voice to one's lofty ambitions or pent-up indignation. It conveys a heroic yet frustrated spirit seeking an outlet through song and percussive accompaniment.
📜 Origin Story
The gesture alludes to Wang Dun (王敦) of the Eastern Jin dynasty, who after drinking would strike a spittoon with a ruyi scepter while passionately chanting poems by Cao Cao, venting his unfulfilled heroic aspirations. The specific phrase '扣壶长吟' appears in Qing dynasty poet Tang Sunhua's (唐孙华) poem '题薪禅弟,' where it describes this very act of rhythmic vessel-striking and intoning to release inner turmoil.
💡 Example Usage
他酒后扣壶长吟，一吐胸中块垒。
After drinking, he struck the pot and chanted long, pouring out the grievances pent up in his heart.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 扣壶长吟
- Pinyin: kòu hú cháng yín
- Literal Translation: strike, pot, long, chant
- Category: Emotion
- Characters: 4