Chinese study involves characters, phrases, and idioms. This resource introduces 「子夏懸鶉」 as part of advanced learning. Explanation below.
Today’s spotlight is on the Chinese idiom 「子夏懸鶉」. You’ll find its explanation and usage below.
Quail: The quail’s tail is bald and looks like it has been patched up with a hundred knots. It refers to Zixia’s hard life but his unwillingness to be an official. His clothes are torn and tangled, and when they are draped over his body they look like a quail’s tail hanging on his body. It describes a person who is ragged and lives in poverty but is still noble and self-reliant and is content with his poverty.
The Mandarin pronunciation of this idiom is :
zǐ xià xuán chún
while its Cantonese pinyin is :
ji2 ha6 yun4 cheun1/seun4
The world of Chinese idioms is massive, filled with countless expressions, each with distinct meanings and applications. These materials are here to support you as you improve your Chinese skills.
