曲高和寡
曲高和寡 (qǔ gāo hè guǎ) literally means “tune high harmony few” and expresses “sophisticated work appreciated by few”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: qu gao he gua, qu gao he gua,曲高和寡 meaning, 曲高和寡 in english
Sophisticated work appreciated by few
Pronunciation: qǔ gāo hè guǎ Literal meaning: Tune high harmony few
Origin & Usage
This cultural idiom observes that when a tune is too sophisticated (曲高), few can harmonize (和寡) with it. It originates from the 'Book of Han' biography of music master Li Yannian, whose complex compositions impressed Emperor Wu but remained inaccessible to ordinary listeners. During the Tang Dynasty's poetic golden age, it became central to debates about artistic accessibility versus sophistication. The musical metaphor perfectly captured the challenge faced by advanced works - technical excellence often limiting popular appeal. Modern usage spans artistic contexts to specialized fields, describing exceptional work that earns expert admiration while remaining inaccessible to general audiences.
Examples
English: "The experimental film received critical acclaim but struggled to find a mainstream audience"
Chinese: 这部实验电影获得了评论界的赞誉，但难以吸引主流观众
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 曲高和寡 mean in English?
曲高和寡 (qǔ gāo hè guǎ) literally translates to “Tune high harmony few” and is used to express “Sophisticated work appreciated by few”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 曲高和寡 used?
Situation: The experimental film received critical acclaim but struggled to find a mainstream audience
What is the pinyin for 曲高和寡?
The pinyin pronunciation for 曲高和寡 is “qǔ gāo hè guǎ”.
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