Chinese Idiom Stories: 江郎才盡 (jiāng láng cái jìn)

Table of Contents

Idiom: 江郎才盡 (jiāng láng cái jìn)

Literal Meaning: Jiang Lang’s Talent is Exhausted
Explanation: 江郎才盡 (jiāng láng cái jìn) refers to a person whose talent or creativity has waned. This idiom is often used to describe someone who was once brilliant and successful but can no longer produce exceptional work.

Chinese Idiom Stories

During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, there was a famous poet named Jiang Yan. Known for his extraordinary talent, he wrote beautiful poems that won admiration across the land. However, as he grew older, he began to struggle with writer’s block. The words that once flowed effortlessly now seemed elusive, and he felt his creativity slipping away. People began to say, “江郎才盡,” implying that Jiang Lang’s talent had come to an end.

Despite his efforts to reignite his inspiration, Jiang Yan accepted that creativity has cycles. This story became a reminder that even the most talented may face moments when their abilities seem exhausted.

Idiom Example Sentences

他寫作多年，最近卻有些江郎才盡的感覺。
- Tā xiězuò duōnián, zuìjìn què yǒuxiē jiāng láng cái jìn de gǎnjué.
- After years of writing, he recently feels as if his talent has waned.
這位畫家似乎已經江郎才盡了，作品沒有以前那麼出色。
- Zhè wèi huàjiā sìhū yǐjīng jiāng láng cái jìn le, zuòpǐn méiyǒu yǐqián nàme chūsè.
- This artist seems to have exhausted their talent; their works are not as outstanding as before.

Practice Exercise

你認為江郎才盡的原因是什麼？
- Nǐ rènwéi jiāng láng cái jìn de yuányīn shì shénme?
- What do you think could cause someone’s talent to wane?Answer: Overuse of creativity, lack of inspiration, or personal struggles.