冠山戴粒 — “Crown a mountain, wear a grain (on one's head)”
冠山戴粒 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to describe how things, despite vast differences in size or scale (like a mountain as a hat and a grain on the head), are each suitable in their own way or for their own purpose; implying that everything, big or small, has its appropriate place and value”. Literally, “Crown a mountain, wear a grain (on one's head)”.
冠山戴粒 Pronunciation and Pinyin
冠山戴粒 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 冠山戴粒
Origin and Story of 冠山戴粒
Legend has it that in ancient times, a giant ao (a mythical turtle or sea monster) in the East Sea could carry the immortal Mount Penglai on its back and roam throughout the vast ocean.
News of this marvel reached a colony of red ants, who were greatly astonished. They agreed to journey to the East Sea to witness this spectacle.
Upon arriving at the East Sea, they saw Mount Penglai in the sea, sometimes visible, sometimes hidden, drifting sometimes east, sometimes west.
After observing it, the ants felt there was nothing particularly miraculous about it, stating it was no different from them carrying grains of rice on their heads.
Idioms Related to 冠山戴粒
More idioms starting with 冠
- guān冠shàng上jiā加guān冠to gild the lily
- guān冠shàng上lǚ履xià下Observe proper distinctions between superior and inferior
- guān冠miǎn冕táng堂huáng皇outwardly dignified but hollow
- guān冠lǚ履dào倒shī施reverse proper order
- guān冠lǚ履dào倒yì易reverse proper order
- guān冠lǚ履dào倒zhì置reverse proper order
- guàn冠jù屦dǎo倒shī施reverse proper order
- guān冠gài盖yún云jí集A large gathering of officials
- guān冠gài盖rú如yún云dignitaries numerous as clouds
- guān冠gài盖rú如shì市A bustling gathering of high-ranking officials
- guān冠gài盖wǎng往lái来eminent visitors coming and going
- guān冠gài盖xiāng相zhǔ属continuous stream of high-ranking visitors
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Open the tool →Questions about 冠山戴粒
What does 冠山戴粒 mean?
冠山戴粒 (guàn shān dài lì) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to describe how things, despite vast differences in size or scale (like a mountain as a hat and a grain on the head), are each suitable in their own way or for their own purpose; implying that everything, big or small, has its appropriate place and value”.
How do you pronounce 冠山戴粒?
冠山戴粒 is pronounced guàn shān dài lì in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 冠山戴粒 literally mean?
Literally, 冠山戴粒 means “Crown a mountain, wear a grain (on one's head)”. It is used to mean “to describe how things, despite vast differences in size or scale (like a mountain as a hat and a grain on the head), are each suitable in their own way or for their own purpose; implying that everything, big or small, has its appropriate place and value”.
Where does 冠山戴粒 come from?
冠山戴粒 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 冠山戴粒?
冠山：把山当帽子，比喻大。戴粒：用头顶粒，比喻小。形容大小虽异，但各适其适。