📖 Meaning
The idiom refers broadly to playing wind and string musical instruments. 'Bamboo' (竹) stands for wind instruments such as flutes made of bamboo, while 'silk' (丝) represents stringed instruments that traditionally used silk strings. It conveys musical refinement and accomplishment.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase comes from the Ming dynasty collection 'Qingping Shantang Huaben' (清平山堂话本) compiled by Hong Pian (洪楩), in the story 'Liu Qiqing's Poetry, Wine, and Enjoyment at the River Tower' (柳耆卿诗酒玩江楼记). The tale portrays the famous Song dynasty poet Liu Yong (柳永, courtesy name Qiqing) as a man of extraordinary versatility — skilled in composing poetry and fu, the four arts of the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and playing wind and string instruments, mastering them all. The expression became a general term for musical entertainment and artistic refinement.
💡 Example Usage
她自幼学习音律，品竹调丝样样精通。
She has studied music since childhood and is accomplished at playing all kinds of wind and string instruments.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 品竹调丝
- Pinyin: pǐn zhú tiáo sī
- Literal Translation: savor bamboo, tune silk
- Category: Skill
- Characters: 4