才高八斗
Chinese
ability; talent; endowment ability; talent; endowment; gift; an expert; only (then); only if; just |
high; tall | eight | ladle; dipper; small ladle; dipper; small; big; stars | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (才高八斗) | 才 | 高 | 八 | 斗 | |
| simp. #(才高八斗) | 才 | 高 | 八 | 斗 | |
Etymology
From Xie Lingyun's comment about Cao Zhi:
- 謝靈運嘗曰：「天下才有一石，曹子建獨占八斗，我得一斗，天下共分一斗。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: Song dynasty, anonymous, 《釋常談》 (Shi Chang Tan)
- Xiè Língyùn cháng yuē: “Tiānxià cái yǒu yī dàn, Cáo Zǐjiàn dúzhàn bā dǒu, wǒ dé yī dǒu, tiānxià gòng fēn yī dǒu. [Pinyin]
- Xie Lingyun once said, “If all talents in the world weigh one dan (i.e. 10 dous) in total, Cao Zijian (courtesy name of Cao Zhi) owned 8 dous, I own 1 dou, and all others in the world share the remaining 1 dou.”
谢灵运尝曰：「天下才有一石，曹子建独占八斗，我得一斗，天下共分一斗。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
In this statement, Xie expressed his admiration of Cao Zhi as well as his pride.
Pronunciation
Synonyms
- 八斗之才
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