著作等身

zhùzuò děngshēn

idiom★Intermediate💡 to have a prolific body of work◆idiom

◆ What It Really Means

To have a large and influential body of written works.

¶ Literal Meaning

Works as tall as oneself.

Literal Breakdown

著作written works+等身as tall as oneself

◇ Mental Image

The mental image of a stack of books or manuscripts reaching the height of a person, symbolizing a vast amount of writing.

◈ When to Use

A literary critic discussing the contributions of a renowned author.

◉ Cultural Note

This idiom reflects the high regard for literary achievements in Chinese culture, where written works are seen as a lasting legacy.

formal

To have a large and influential body of written works, often used to describe a prolific writer or scholar.

鲁迅的著作等身，影响了几代中国人。

Lu Xun's body of work is prolific, influencing generations of Chinese people.

💡

This idiom emphasizes the quantity and significance of someone's written contributions.

Synonyms

著作等身著作等身

Antonyms

一事无成

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

This idiom is typically used in formal or academic contexts to describe writers, scholars, or intellectuals with extensive published works.

📖Word Origin

The idiom combines '著作' (written works) and '等身' (as tall as oneself), literally meaning 'works as tall as oneself,' symbolizing a vast amount of writing.

📝Usage Notes

This idiom is often used to praise someone's significant literary contributions.

Word Breakdown

著作

written works

root

等身

as tall as oneself

root

汉英词典

著作等身

zhùzuò děngshēn

idiom★Intermediate💡 to have a prolific body of work◆idiom

◆ What It Really Means

To have a large and influential body of written works.

¶ Literal Meaning

Works as tall as oneself.

Literal Breakdown

著作written works+等身as tall as oneself

◇ Mental Image

The mental image of a stack of books or manuscripts reaching the height of a person, symbolizing a vast amount of writing.

◈ When to Use

A literary critic discussing the contributions of a renowned author.

◉ Cultural Note

This idiom reflects the high regard for literary achievements in Chinese culture, where written works are seen as a lasting legacy.

formal

To have a large and influential body of written works, often used to describe a prolific writer or scholar.

鲁迅的著作等身，影响了几代中国人。

Lu Xun's body of work is prolific, influencing generations of Chinese people.

💡

This idiom emphasizes the quantity and significance of someone's written contributions.

Synonyms

著作等身著作等身

Antonyms

一事无成

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

This idiom is typically used in formal or academic contexts to describe writers, scholars, or intellectuals with extensive published works.

📖Word Origin

The idiom combines '著作' (written works) and '等身' (as tall as oneself), literally meaning 'works as tall as oneself,' symbolizing a vast amount of writing.

📝Usage Notes

This idiom is often used to praise someone's significant literary contributions.

Word Breakdown

著作

written works

root

等身

as tall as oneself

root

汉英词典