諺語 · a single proverb
金屋藏嬌
Simplified: 金屋藏娇
What does 金屋藏嬌 (jīn wū cáng jiāo) mean?
金屋藏嬌 (jīn wū cáng jiāo) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "hide a beauty in a golden house." In use it means: Treasuring something or someone precious by keeping them sheltered and protected, sometimes to the point of possessiveness. 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 Rabbit.
Literally: "hide a beauty in a golden house."
The reading
The house is golden. The person inside is beautiful. And the door is locked. Protection and possession look identical from the outside. The question is whether the person inside chose the golden house or was chosen for it. Love that locks the door is not love. It is collection.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Han Wu Gushi 漢武故事, story of Emperor Wu of Han
Sits beside
外甥打燈籠——照舅（照舊）
wài shēng dǎ dēng long——zhào jiù (zhào jiù)
A pun on 照舅 (illuminating the uncle) and 照舊 (as before).
家有黃金，不如有個好鄰居
jiā yǒu huáng jīn bù rú yǒu gè hǎo lín jū
A good neighbor is worth more than household gold.
龍生龍，鳳生鳳，老鼠生的兒子會打洞
lóng shēng lóng, fèng shēng fèng, lǎo shǔ shēng de ér zi huì dǎ dòng
Children tend to inherit or follow the traits and social standing of their parents.
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 Home, Family & Roots, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rabbit, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 金屋藏嬌 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 金屋藏嬌 (jīn wū cáng jiāo) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Han Wu Gushi 漢武故事, story of Emperor Wu of Han. 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 金屋藏嬌?
In Mandarin it is jīn wū cáng jiāo. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 金屋藏嬌 aloud in Mandarin.