抛砖引玉
抛砖引玉 (pāo zhuān yǐn yù) literally means “throw brick attract jade” and expresses “offer modest view to inspire better”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: pao zhuan yin yu, pao zhuan yin yu,抛砖引玉 meaning, 抛砖引玉 in english
Offer modest view to inspire better
Pronunciation: pāo zhuān yǐn yù Literal meaning: Throw brick attract jade
Origin & Usage
Zhao Gu was the better poet, and Chang Jian wanted a poem out of him. Knowing Zhao Gu would visit the Lingyan Temple, Chang Jian went first and wrote two lines on the wall; Zhao Gu came, saw them, and completed the quatrain. Chang Jian's couplet was much the weaker, which is the point of the anecdote — he had thrown (抛) a brick (砖) to draw out (引) jade (玉). It is used almost entirely of oneself, offering a first rough idea to provoke better ones, and it is a modesty formula rather than a description of anyone else's contribution.
Examples
English: "She shared her initial idea hoping to inspire better suggestions"
Chinese: 她分享了初步想法，希望能激发更好的建议
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
融会贯通
róng huì guàn tōng
Integrate many strands into one understanding
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学海无涯
xué hǎi wú yá
Learning is limitless
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知行合一
zhī xíng hé yī
Practice what you know
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举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
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温故知新
wēn gù zhī xīn
Learn new through studying old
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画龙点睛
huà lóng diǎn jīng
Add crucial finishing touch
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读万卷书
dú wàn juàn shū
Read extensively for knowledge
Learn more →
入乡随俗
rù xiāng suí sú
Adopt the customs of where you are
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 抛砖引玉 mean in English?
抛砖引玉 (pāo zhuān yǐn yù) literally translates to “Throw brick attract jade” and is used to express “Offer modest view to inspire better”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 抛砖引玉 used?
Situation: She shared her initial idea hoping to inspire better suggestions
What is the pinyin for 抛砖引玉?
The pinyin pronunciation for 抛砖引玉 is “pāo zhuān yǐn yù”.
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