刻画无盐 — “To portray Wuyan in detail”
刻画无盐 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make an inappropriate comparison, especially equating something beautiful with something ugly, or drawing an unfitting analogy; to describe an ugly person (like Wuyan) in detail, implying a poor or misplaced analogy”. Literally, “To portray Wuyan in detail”.
刻画无盐 Pronunciation and Pinyin
刻画无盐 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 刻画无盐
Origin and Story of 刻画无盐
During the Warring States period, in the Qi State, lived Zhongli Chun, a woman of exceptionally ugly appearance, known later as Wuyan. Despite her looks, she possessed great talent. At forty, she met King Xuan of Qi, presented him with solutions to the state's problems, and was consequently made his queen. Wuyan became a symbol of ugliness, just as Xishi represented beauty. These two were utterly incomparable; to equate them would be to unduly elevate the ugly and diminish the beautiful.
The idiom's origin is further illustrated in the *Book of Jin* (Jin Shu), where Zhou Yi, a high-ranking official during the Eastern Jin dynasty, was compared to Yue Guang, a renowned figure of integrity. Zhou Yi, however, felt Yue Guang was inferior to him. When Yu Liang informed him of this comparison, Zhou Yi was displeased and retorted, "Why portray Wuyan in detail, thus insulting Xishi!"
This expression, "刻画无盐，唐突西施" (to portray Wuyan in detail and offend Xishi), came to signify making an inappropriate comparison, especially one that elevates the inferior while demeaning the superior or beautiful.
Idioms Related to 刻画无盐
More idioms starting with 刻
- kè刻bù不kě可huǎn缓cannot be delayed for a moment
- kè刻bù不róng容sōng松cannot relax even for a moment
- kè刻bù不róng容huǎn缓extremely urgent, brooks no delay
- kè刻bù不dài待shí时Time is pressing
- kè刻yì意qiú求gōng工strive for exquisite perfection
- kè刻yì意jīng经yíng营meticulously manage and plan
- kè刻mù木wéi为lì吏Extreme dread of tyrannical officials
- kè刻mù木wéi为hú鹄a rough but similar imitation
- kè刻huà画rù入wēi微depict with meticulous detail
- kè刻zhāng章zhuó琢jù句meticulously refine writing
- kè刻cuì翠cái裁hóng红meticulously refine and embellish literary language
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Open the tool →Questions about 刻画无盐
What does 刻画无盐 mean?
刻画无盐 (kè huà wú yán) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make an inappropriate comparison, especially equating something beautiful with something ugly, or drawing an unfitting analogy; to describe an ugly person (like Wuyan) in detail, implying a poor or misplaced analogy”.
How do you pronounce 刻画无盐?
刻画无盐 is pronounced kè huà wú yán in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 刻画无盐 literally mean?
Literally, 刻画无盐 means “to portray Wuyan in detail”. It is used to mean “to make an inappropriate comparison, especially equating something beautiful with something ugly, or drawing an unfitting analogy; to describe an ugly person (like Wuyan) in detail, implying a poor or misplaced analogy”.
Where does 刻画无盐 come from?
刻画无盐 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 刻画无盐?
无盐：传说中的古代丑女。精细地描摹丑女无盐。比喻以丑比美，引喻比拟得不恰当。