十人九慕

shí rén jiǔ mù
Literal: "ten, people, nine, admire"

📖 Meaning

Out of ten people, nine will admire the person. It describes someone whose talent and appearance are so outstanding that nearly everyone who encounters them feels admiration or envy.

📜 Origin Story

No specific literary origin is recorded for this idiom. It is a folk-style expression that uses a simple numerical contrast to convey widespread admiration. The imagery is straightforward: if nine out of ten people are moved to envy or admiration, the person's qualities must be truly exceptional. It is commonly used to praise someone's extraordinary talent or beauty.

💡 Example Usage

她在学校里成绩优异又长得漂亮,真是十人九慕。

She excels academically and is strikingly beautiful at school, admired by almost everyone around her.

🏷️ Category

➕ Similar Idioms

➖ Opposite Idioms

🔤 Quick Facts

  • Chinese: 十人九慕
  • Pinyin: shí rén jiǔ mù
  • Literal Translation: ten, people, nine, admire
  • Category: Quality
  • Characters: 4