Your free Chinese learning resource is here! This idiom and proverb series introduces phrases rich in meaning. Today, we explain 「齧檗吞針」 and its usage.
Let’s dive into the idiom 「齧檗吞針」. Its definition and application are outlined below.
Berberis: commonly known as Phellodendron chinense, tastes bitter. Gnawing Phellodendron: Eating Phellodendron is a metaphor for the taste of food being as bitter as Phellodendron. Swallowing a needle: swallowing a needle, a metaphor for food that is extremely difficult to swallow. Describes food that is difficult to swallow.
The Mandarin pronunciation of this idiom is :
niè bò tūn zhēn
while its Cantonese pinyin is :
ngit6 paak3 tan1 jam1
The world of Chinese idioms is immense, with countless meanings and applications to discover. We hope these resources help you unlock the beauty of learning Chinese.
