如数家珍

Pronunciation: rú shǔ jiā zhēn
Literal meaning: Count like family treasures

Origin & Usage

This idiom captures the intimate knowledge of counting (数) family (家) treasures (珍) with perfect familiarity. It originated from descriptions of merchant families during the Song Dynasty, who knew their inventory in precise detail. The metaphor gained broader cultural significance as scholars applied it to mastery of classical texts. Historical accounts show how this level of familiarity marked true expertise in traditional Chinese education. Contemporary usage describes comprehensive knowledge of any subject, suggesting both depth of understanding and personal investment. It implies that true mastery comes from treating knowledge as precious as family heirlooms.

Examples

English: "The historian discussed ancient artifacts with intimate familiarity"

Chinese: 这位历史学家谈论古代文物如数家珍

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