📖 Meaning
Literally 'wearing embroidered clothes and walking in daylight.' It is a metaphor for serving as an official in one's hometown, or returning home after achieving wealth and success, so that one's glory is visible to all who know them.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the 'Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Zhang Ji' (《三国志·魏书·张既传》). Zhang Ji was a native of Wuwei commandery in Liang Province. When Cao Cao appointed him as Inspector of Yong Province—a region that encompassed his home territory—someone praised the appointment with the words, 'Returning you to your home province, this can truly be called wearing brocade and walking in daylight.' The idea is that returning to one's roots in a position of prestige lets former neighbors and acquaintances witness one's success, like wearing splendid clothes where everyone can see them.
💡 Example Usage
他功成名就后回到家乡任职，乡亲们都说这是衣绣昼行，风光无限。
After achieving success and returning to his hometown to take up an official post, the villagers all said he was walking in brocade by daylight—enjoying glory in full view of everyone.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 衣绣昼行
- Pinyin: yì xiù zhòu xíng
- Literal Translation: wear, brocade, daytime, walk
- Category: Status
- Characters: 4