近水楼台
近水楼台 (jìn shuǐ lóu tái) literally means “pavilion close to water” and expresses “advantage from close connections”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: jin shui lou tai, jin shui lou tai,近水楼台 meaning, 近水楼台 in english
Advantage from close connections
Pronunciation: jìn shuǐ lóu tái Literal meaning: Pavilion close to water
Origin & Usage
Su Lin, a minor officer under Fan Zhongyan, was passed over while Fan promoted others around him, and presented a couplet instead of a complaint: 近水楼台先得月，向阳花木易为春 — the tower (楼台) nearest (近) the water (水) gets the moon first, and flowers facing the sun come to spring early. Fan took the point and promoted him. The phrase names advantage that comes from position rather than merit, and it is usually said with a trace of resentment by whoever is further from the water.
Examples
English: "Living in the city gave her more career opportunities"
Chinese: 住在城市给了她更多的职业机会
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
覆水难收
fù shuǐ nán shōu
Actions cannot be undone
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水到渠成
shuǐ dào qú chéng
Success comes naturally
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明镜止水
míng jìng zhǐ shuǐ
Clear and calm mind
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如鱼得水
rú yú dé shuǐ
In perfect element
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滴水不漏
dī shuǐ bù lòu
Absolutely flawless and thorough
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高山流水
gāo shān liú shuǐ
Perfect artistic understanding between friends
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背水一战
bèi shuǐ yī zhàn
Fight with total commitment having no retreat
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望穿秋水
wàng chuān qiū shuǐ
To eagerly await someone or something
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 近水楼台 mean in English?
近水楼台 (jìn shuǐ lóu tái) literally translates to “Pavilion close to water” and is used to express “Advantage from close connections”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 近水楼台 used?
Situation: Living in the city gave her more career opportunities
What is the pinyin for 近水楼台?
The pinyin pronunciation for 近水楼台 is “jìn shuǐ lóu tái”.
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