才高八斗
才高八斗 (cái gāo bā dǒu) literally means “talent high eight dou” and expresses “exceptionally talented”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: cai gao ba dou, cai gao ba dou,才高八斗 meaning, 才高八斗 in english
Exceptionally talented
Pronunciation: cái gāo bā dǒu Literal meaning: Talent high eight dou
Origin & Usage
The idiom 才高八斗 (cái gāo bā dǒu) originates from a story involving the renowned poet Cao Zhi (曹植) from the Three Kingdoms period. Cao Zhi, known for his exceptional literary talent, was praised by the Southern Dynasty poet Xie Lingyun (谢灵运). Xie once remarked that the world's literary talent amounted to one 'shi' (石, a unit of measure), with Cao Zhi possessing eight 'dou' (斗, another unit of measure), while he himself had one, and the rest of the world shared the remaining one. This story highlights Cao Zhi's extraordinary talent. The idiom is used to describe someone with outstanding literary or intellectual abilities. The characters 才 (cái) mean 'talent,' 高 (gāo) means 'high,' and 八斗 (bā dǒu) refers to 'eight dou,' symbolizing a large amount of talent.
Examples
English: "His knowledge of literature and philosophy is unmatched, making him a true scholar."
Chinese: 他的文学和哲学知识才高八斗，堪称真正的学者。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
融会贯通
róng huì guàn tōng
Master something completely
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学海无涯
xué hǎi wú yá
Learning is limitless
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知行合一
zhī xíng hé yī
Practice what you know
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举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
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温故知新
wēn gù zhī xīn
Learn new through studying old
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画龙点睛
huà lóng diǎn jīng
Add crucial finishing touch
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读万卷书
dú wàn juǎn shū
Read extensively for knowledge
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抛砖引玉
pāo zhuān yǐn yù
Offer modest view to inspire better
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 才高八斗 mean in English?
才高八斗 (cái gāo bā dǒu) literally translates to “Talent high eight dou” and is used to express “Exceptionally talented”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 才高八斗 used?
Situation: His knowledge of literature and philosophy is unmatched, making him a true scholar.
What is the pinyin for 才高八斗?
The pinyin pronunciation for 才高八斗 is “cái gāo bā dǒu”.