才华横溢

cáihuá héngyì◆idiom

brilliant and talented

她是一个才华横溢的作家，作品深受读者喜爱。

She is a brilliant and talented writer whose works are deeply loved by readers.

◆ What It Really Means

To describe someone whose talent and creativity are so abundant that they seem to overflow, often in artistic or intellectual pursuits.

¶ Literal Meaning

Talent overflowing horizontally.

Literal Breakdown

才华talent and creativity+横溢overflow horizontally

◇ Mental Image

Imagine a river overflowing its banks, symbolizing an abundance of talent that cannot be contained.

◈ When to Use

A literary critic reviewing a debut novel might say, 'The young author is truly 才华横溢, weaving intricate plots with poetic prose.'

◉ Cultural Note

This idiom reflects the traditional Chinese emphasis on artistic and literary talent as a form of personal virtue and social value. It is often used in classical literature and modern media to praise exceptional individuals.

formal

Having extraordinary talent and creativity in a particular field, often in arts or literature.

这位画家才华横溢，每一幅作品都充满了想象力。

This painter is brilliant and full of imagination in every work.

他是一位才华横溢的音乐家，创作了许多经典作品。

He is a brilliant musician who has created many classic works.

Often used to describe individuals with exceptional artistic or intellectual abilities.

Collocations

才华横溢的艺术家brilliant artist才华横溢的作家brilliant writer才华横溢的音乐家brilliant musician

Synonyms

才思敏捷才华出众才气过人

Antonyms

才疏学浅才智平庸

Related Phrases

出类拔萃idiom

stand out from the crowd

文采斐然idiom

brilliant literary talent

Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use '才华横溢' to describe someone who excels in artistic or intellectual fields, such as writing, painting, or music. Avoid using it for general praise or non-creative skills.

Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

This idiom is a strong compliment. Reserve it for truly exceptional individuals to avoid sounding hyperbolic.

Word Origin

The idiom originates from the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi's description of literary talent. '才华' (cáihuá) means 'talent' and '横溢' (héngyì) means 'overflowing', combining to describe someone whose talent is abundant and overflowing.

Usage Notes

This idiom is typically used in formal or literary contexts to praise someone's exceptional abilities. It is not used to describe everyday skills or achievements.

Word Breakdown

才华

talent and creativity

root

横溢

overflowing, abundant

root

汉英词典

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