諺語 · a single proverb
瑕不掩瑜
What does 瑕不掩瑜 (xiá bù yǎn yú) mean?
瑕不掩瑜 (xiá bù yǎn yú) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "a flaw does not hide the jade's luster." In use it means: A minor imperfection does not diminish overall excellence. The jade is still jade, even with a small blemish. Perfection is not the standard; quality is. 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: "a flaw does not hide the jade's luster."
The reading
The crack in the jade runs through the corner. The rest of the stone glows. A reasonable person sees the glow. An unreasonable person sees only the crack. The ability to appreciate a flawed but beautiful thing, a person, a plan, a work of art, is the difference between living well and living frustrated.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Book of Rites 禮記, Pinyi 聘義; classical jade metaphor
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 瑕不掩瑜 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 瑕不掩瑜 (xiá bù yǎn yú) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Book of Rites 禮記, Pinyi 聘義; classical jade metaphor. 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 瑕不掩瑜?
In Mandarin it is xiá bù yǎn yú. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 瑕不掩瑜 aloud in Mandarin.