待价藏珠 — “To hide pearls waiting for a good price”
待价藏珠 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to keep one's talent or virtue hidden, waiting for the right opportunity or appreciation; to hold back one's abilities until they can be fully recognized and valued”. Literally, “To hide pearls waiting for a good price”.
待价藏珠 Pronunciation and Pinyin
待价藏珠 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 待价藏珠
Origin and Story of 待价藏珠
During the Spring and Autumn period, Confucius believed that current rulers would adopt his benevolent governance. While serving in the State of Lu, Duke Lu was controlled by the Ji family, which frustrated Confucius.
He lamented, "If only someone would employ me, I could achieve something in a month, and great success in three years." However, Duke Lu did not highly value his services.
His disciple Zigong then asked him, "If there is a beautiful jade here, should we store it in a casket and seek a good merchant to sell it?" Confucius replied, "Sell it, of course! I am one who awaits the merchant."
Idioms Related to 待价藏珠
Synonyms of 待价藏珠
More idioms starting with 待
- dài待rén人jiē接wù物how one treats people and handles affairs
- dài待tù兔shǒu守zhū株foolishly stick to a rigid course
- dài待shì势chéng乘shí时bide time, seize opportunity
- dài待zì字guī闺zhōng中unmarried woman awaiting betrothal
- dài待shí时shǒu守fèn分bide one's time and keep to one's place
- dài待shí时ér而jǔ举wait for the opportune moment to act
- dài待shí时ér而dòng动Wait for the opportune moment to act
- dài待yuè月xī西xiāng厢clandestine romantic rendezvous
- dài待jī机zài再jǔ举wait for the opportune moment to act
- dài待lǐ理bù不lǐ理to treat with indifference
- dài待dá答bù不lǐ理treat with indifference
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Open the tool →Questions about 待价藏珠
What does 待价藏珠 mean?
待价藏珠 (dài jià cáng zhū) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to keep one's talent or virtue hidden, waiting for the right opportunity or appreciation; to hold back one's abilities until they can be fully recognized and valued”.
How do you pronounce 待价藏珠?
待价藏珠 is pronounced dài jià cáng zhū in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 待价藏珠 literally mean?
Literally, 待价藏珠 means “to hide pearls waiting for a good price”. It is used to mean “to keep one's talent or virtue hidden, waiting for the right opportunity or appreciation; to hold back one's abilities until they can be fully recognized and valued”.
Where does 待价藏珠 come from?
待价藏珠 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 待价藏珠?
待：等待；待价：等待高价出售。珍藏明珠，等待高价出售。比喻有才学者等待被人赏识