金玉良言

Pronunciation: jīn yù liáng yán Literal meaning: Gold and jade good words

Origin & Usage

Sound advice likened to gold (金) and jade (玉), the two materials Chinese tradition treats as both precious and enduring. Good words (良言) of this kind are not merely correct but worth keeping. 金石良言 is an equally established variant, substituting stone for jade — both forms are current, and neither is a mistake. A learner should note the direction of travel: you say it about what you were told, never about what you are about to say, which makes it a way of accepting advice rather than of offering it.

Examples

English: "Her mentor's guidance proved invaluable throughout her career"

Chinese: 她导师的指导在她的职业生涯中证明是无价的