红丝待选 — “To choose a son-in-law for one's daughter”

Q: What is the Chinese definition of 红丝待选?

选：选择，挑选。指为女儿择女婿

红丝待选 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to choose a son-in-law for one's daughter”. Often implying a distinctive or indirect method of selection. Literally, “Red thread awaiting selection”.

Frequency

红丝待选 Pronunciation and Pinyin

红丝待选 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
红	hóng	6	red, popular, auspicious
丝	sī	5	silk thread or fine filament
待	dài	9	wait, treat, or about to
选	xuǎn	10	choose, select

Example Sentence with 红丝待选

听说张家小姐才貌双全，许多青年才俊都希望得到红丝待选的机会。

It is said that Miss Zhang is both talented and beautiful, and many eligible young men hoped to be among those awaiting selection by the 'red thread'.

Origin and Story of 红丝待选

Legend has it that in ancient times, Guo Yuanzhen was a young man of exceptional talent and elegant demeanor. Chancellor Zhang Jia had five beautiful daughters and was looking for a suitable son-in-law, with Guo Yuanzhen being a prime candidate.

Guo Yuanzhen, aware of the five daughters, was uncertain about which one Chancellor Zhang intended for him. To resolve this, Chancellor Zhang devised a unique method. He had his five daughters stand behind a silk curtain, each holding a silk thread that extended through the curtain.

Guo Yuanzhen was then asked to pull one of the red threads. He chose a thread, and it led him to the third daughter, who was renowned for her beauty. Later, she achieved prominence and status alongside her distinguished husband.