📖 Meaning
Every word is like a precious pearl. It describes writing or speech whose every word is exquisitely chosen and beautiful. The idiom is used to praise the elegance and refinement of an article or speech.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Qing dynasty novel 'Ernü Yingxiong Zhuan' (儿女英雄传) by Wen Kang. In the text, a passage remarks that even if essays were each a piece of brocade and every word a precious pearl, one still might not pass the imperial examination to become a jinshi. The expression thus originally conveyed the frustration that literary brilliance alone could not guarantee official success, but over time it came to be used purely as high praise for beautifully written prose.
💡 Example Usage
这位作家的散文字字珠玑，令人读后回味无穷。
This writer's prose is so beautifully crafted that every word feels like a gem, leaving readers with a lasting impression.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 字字珠玑
- Pinyin: zì zì zhū jī
- Literal Translation: character, character, pearl, gem
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4