📖 Meaning
珠 (zhū) means round pearls and 玑 (jī) means irregular ones; together 珠玑 metaphorically refers to beautiful, polished writing. The idiom describes someone who is full of literary talent and writes with elegance and brilliance. It is used as high praise for a person's skill in composing fine prose or poetry.
📜 Origin Story
The term 珠玑 originally referred to pearls of varying shapes—珠 being round ones and 玑 the less regular ones—which were treasured ornaments in ancient China. Tang dynasty poet Du Mu, in his collection 《樊川文集》, wrote '五字弄珠玑' (with five characters one toys with pearls and jewels), likening fine poetic lines to precious gems. Song dynasty scholar Wu Chuhou, in 《表箱杂记》, gave the phrase its fuller form: '谁料满腹填珠玑' (who would have expected him to be filled with pearls and jewels), remarking on someone whose plain appearance concealed extraordinary literary gifts. Over time 满腹珠玑 became a set phrase praising a person brimming with literary talent.
💡 Example Usage
这位老先生满腹珠玑，随便写篇文章都令人叹服。
This elderly gentleman is so full of literary talent that even a casual essay he writes leaves people in admiration.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 满腹珠玑
- Pinyin: mǎn fù zhū jī
- Literal Translation: full, belly, pearls, jewels
- Category: Skill
- Characters: 4