📖 Meaning
This idiom describes the seamless fusion of Chinese and foreign elements into a harmonious whole. It is synonymous with 中西合璧 (zhōng xī hé bì), emphasizing the successful blending of disparate cultural traditions. The term often carries a positive connotation, suggesting that the combination is elegant, complementary, and well-balanced.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom first appears in Chapter 31 of Li Baojia's late Qing Dynasty satirical novel 'Officialdom Unmasked' (《官场现形记》). In the story, a character criticizes an awkward military drill that mixes traditional Chinese-style long spears with German-style drill formations, describing it as neither properly Chinese nor properly foreign — a '中外合璧' of the worst kind. Originally used sarcastically to mock a clumsy, incoherent blend, the phrase later evolved to take on a neutral or positive sense of harmonious cultural fusion.
💡 Example Usage
这家餐厅的装修风格中外合璧，既有红木屏风又有水晶吊灯。
The decor of this restaurant is a seamless blend of Chinese and Western styles, featuring both rosewood screens and crystal chandeliers.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 中外合璧
- Pinyin: zhōng wài hé bì
- Literal Translation: Chinese, foreign, combine, jade-perfectly
- Category: Variety
- Characters: 4