买椟还珠
买椟还珠 (mǎi dú huán zhū) literally means “buy case, return pearl” and expresses “valuing packaging over content”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: mai du huan zhu, mai du huan zhu,买椟还珠 meaning, 买椟还珠 in english
Valuing packaging over content
Pronunciation: mǎi dú huán zhū Literal meaning: Buy case, return pearl
Origin & Usage
Han Feizi tells of a man of Chu who sold a pearl to a man of Zheng, in a casket (椟) of magnolia scented with spices, inlaid with jade and kingfisher feather. The buyer bought (买) the casket and gave the pearl back. Han Fei's target is the seller as much as the buyer: this, he says, is what happens to arguments dressed too finely — the ornament is what gets attention. The phrase describes taking the packaging and returning (还) the pearl (珠), and it is used of style preferred over substance.
Examples
English: "The collector purchased the elaborate frame but returned the valuable painting it contained"
Chinese: 收藏家购买了精美的画框，却退回了其中的名贵画作
Related Chinese Idioms
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Inflexible adherence
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本末倒置
běn mò dào zhì
Prioritize minor over fundamental matters
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隔靴搔痒
gé xuē sāo yǎng
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过犹不及
guò yóu bù jí
Moderation in all things
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Eloquent and insightful
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妙语连珠
miào yǔ lián zhū
Wit arriving in a run
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jiàn wēi zhī zhù
Foresee big from small signs
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 买椟还珠 mean in English?
买椟还珠 (mǎi dú huán zhū) literally translates to “Buy case, return pearl” and is used to express “Valuing packaging over content”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 买椟还珠 used?
Situation: The collector purchased the elaborate frame but returned the valuable painting it contained
What is the pinyin for 买椟还珠?
The pinyin pronunciation for 买椟还珠 is “mǎi dú huán zhū”.