📖 Meaning
Literally meaning to return the jade intact to the State of Zhao. It is a variant of the more common idiom 完璧归赵, used to describe returning something borrowed in perfect condition to its rightful owner.
📜 Origin Story
During the Warring States period, the State of Qin demanded the legendary He Shi Bi jade from the State of Zhao in exchange for fifteen cities. The Zhao diplomat Lin Xiangru was sent to Qin with the jade, but upon realizing the Qin king had no intention of honoring the deal, he cleverly retrieved the jade and secretly sent it back to Zhao intact. This story is recorded in Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (Shi Ji). The variant form 全璧归赵 emphasizes the completeness (全) of the returned item.
💡 Example Usage
借了朋友的书，我读完之后全璧归赵，没有一点折损。
After borrowing my friend's book, I returned it in pristine condition without a single crease.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 全璧归赵
- Pinyin: quán bì guī zhào
- Literal Translation: intact, jade, return, Zhao
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4