满腹经纶
满腹经纶 (mǎn fù jīng lún) literally means “a belly full of ordered silk” and expresses “wise and knowledgeable”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: man fu jing lun, man fu jing lun,满腹经纶 meaning, 满腹经纶 in english
Wise and knowledgeable
Pronunciation: mǎn fù jīng lún Literal meaning: A belly full of ordered silk
Origin & Usage
经纶 is textile work before it is statecraft — sorting raw silk and twisting it into cord — and it became the standard metaphor for the ordering of state affairs, which is untangling of the same kind. So a belly (腹) full (满) of 经纶 is a person stocked not merely with reading but with the capacity to organise it into policy. The phrase implies usable knowledge held in reserve, which is why it so often appears in the frustrated form: 满腹经纶 and no post to apply it in.
Examples
English: "Her extensive understanding of history makes her a valuable asset to the team."
Chinese: 她对历史的满腹经纶使她成为团队的重要资产。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
口蜜腹剑
kǒu mì fù jiàn
Hide evil behind sweet words
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饱经沧桑
bǎo jīng cāng sāng
Weathered profound life transformations
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推心置腹
tuī xīn zhì fù
Speak from the heart; confide completely
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天经地义
tiān jīng dì yì
Universal truth
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桃李满门
táo lǐ mǎn mén
Have many successful students
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金玉满堂
jīn yù mǎn táng
May your home overflow with wealth
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恶贯满盈
è guàn mǎn yíng
Accumulated evil deeds ripe for punishment
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满载而归
mǎn zài ér guī
Return with rich rewards
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 满腹经纶 mean in English?
满腹经纶 (mǎn fù jīng lún) literally translates to “A belly full of ordered silk” and is used to express “Wise and knowledgeable”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 满腹经纶 used?
Situation: Her extensive understanding of history makes her a valuable asset to the team.
What is the pinyin for 满腹经纶?
The pinyin pronunciation for 满腹经纶 is “mǎn fù jīng lún”.