完璧归赵
完璧归赵 (wán bì guī zhào) literally means “return jade to zhao complete” and expresses “return something perfect”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: wan bi gui zhao, wan bi gui zhao,完璧归赵 meaning, 完璧归赵 in english
Return something perfect
Pronunciation: wán bì guī zhào
Literal meaning: Return jade to Zhao complete
Origin & Usage
This idiom stems from the Warring States period when Lin Xiangru, a diplomat of Zhao state, was tasked with protecting a precious jade disk (璧) that King Qin demanded to see. When the king refused to return the complete (完) jade to Zhao (赵), Lin cleverly threatened to destroy it, forcing its return. The story appears in Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, highlighting diplomatic ingenuity over military might. Beyond its historical significance in demonstrating integrity in negotiations, modern usage applies to returning borrowed items in perfect condition or, more broadly, to completing tasks with absolute integrity and thoroughness.
Examples
English: "The courier safely delivered the precious artifact to the museum"
Chinese: 快递员安全地将珍贵文物送到了博物馆
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 完璧归赵 mean in English?
完璧归赵 (wán bì guī zhào) literally translates to “Return jade to Zhao complete” and is used to express “Return something perfect”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 完璧归赵 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving return something perfect.
What is the pinyin for 完璧归赵?
The pinyin pronunciation for 完璧归赵 is “wán bì guī zhào”.