📖 Meaning
It refers to an uncarved jade that has not yet gained a name or reputation. Metaphorically, it describes a person of genuine talent and ability who remains unknown and unrecognized by the world. It is equivalent to the expression '无名之朴'.
📜 Origin Story
No single authoritative origin story is recorded for this idiom. It draws on the classical Chinese metaphor of 璞 (pú), an uncarved block of jade, which since ancient times has symbolized raw, unrealized potential and innate worth hidden beneath a rough exterior. The pairing with '无名' (nameless) reinforces the idea of talent that has not yet been discovered or acknowledged. The concept resonates with passages in works such as the Han Feizi and later Neo-Daoist writings, where uncarved jade represents natural virtue awaiting refinement.
💡 Example Usage
他虽才华横溢，却如无名之璞，长期埋没于乡野之间。
Though brimming with talent, he was like a nameless uncarved jade, long buried in obscurity in the countryside.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 无名之璞
- Pinyin: wú míng zhī pú
- Literal Translation: without, name, of, uncarved jade
- Category: Status
- Characters: 4