諺語 · a single proverb
白璧無瑕
Simplified: 白璧无瑕
What does 白璧無瑕 (bái bì wú xiá) mean?
白璧無瑕 (bái bì wú xiá) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "white jade without a flaw." In use it means: Perfect, unblemished character or quality. Like a piece of jade with no cracks or impurities. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Goat.
Literally: "white jade without a flaw."
The reading
Jade is judged by its flaws. White jade with no flaw at all is almost impossible to find. That is why the phrase is reserved for the rarest people or the rarest work. Most jade has inclusions. Most people have flaws. Acknowledging the rarity is part of the respect.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Early usage in Zuo Zhuan 左傳 and Songs of Chu 楚辭
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Goat, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 白璧無瑕 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 白璧無瑕 (bái bì wú xiá) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Early usage in Zuo Zhuan 左傳 and Songs of Chu 楚辭. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 白璧無瑕?
In Mandarin it is bái bì wú xiá. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 白璧無瑕 aloud in Mandarin.