Idiom: 才高八斗 (cái gāo bā dǒu)
Literal Meaning: “Talent as high as eight bushels.”
Explanation:才高八斗 (cái gāo bā dǒu) Refers to someone with extraordinary literary talent or intelligence.
Chinese Idiom Stories
During the Jin Dynasty, there was a famous writer named Cao Pi. When discussing talent, people compared others to Cao Zhi, the younger brother of Cao Pi, who was known for his exceptional literary skills.
Cao Zhi’s talent was so outstanding that someone remarked, “He has eight parts of talent out of ten. The rest of us share the remaining two.”
This idiom highlights the notion of rare genius and sets Cao Zhi apart as a figure of admiration and envy. It is often used to describe someone exceptionally talented, especially in literary arts.
Idiom Example Sentences
- 他才高八斗，寫的詩讓人讚不絕口。
- He is incredibly talented, and his poetry receives endless praise.
- Tā cái gāo bā dǒu, xiě de shī ràng rén zàn bù jué kǒu.
- 李教授才高八斗，是我們學校最有名的學者。
- Professor Li is exceptionally talented and is the most renowned scholar at our school.
- Lǐ jiàoshòu cái gāo bā dǒu, shì wǒmen xuéxiào zuì yǒumíng de xuézhě.
Practice Exercise
- Who is the historical figure associated with the idiom 才高八斗?
- What does the idiom imply about a person’s abilities?
- Use 才高八斗 in a sentence to describe someone you admire.
Multiple Choice Questions
Which situation best reflects the use of 才高八斗?
A) A chef who cooks delicious meals.
B) A student who always scores top marks in math.
C) A poet whose works are admired by many.
D) A musician who practices every day.
(Answer: C)
