如数家珍 (rú shǔ jiā zhēn) — to know something thoroughly; to be intimately familiar with every detail

Definition

A chengyu meaning someone knows a topic so well they can list its details as easily as counting their own family treasures. Used to praise deep, intimate familiarity with a subject.

idiom
to know something thoroughlyto be intimately familiar with every detail

Examples

  • 如数家珍。
    Tā duì zì jǐ shōu cáng de gǔ dǒng rú shǔ jiā zhēn.
    He knows every antique in his collection like the back of his hand.
  • 如数家珍。
    Zhè wèi lǎo jiào shòu duì zhè duàn lì shǐ rú shǔ jiā zhēn.
    The old professor knows this period of history inside out.
  • 如数家珍。
    Tā néng rú shǔ jiā zhēn dì liè chū suǒ yǒu shěng fèn de shěng huì.
    She can rattle off all the provincial capitals with perfect familiarity.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ如rú
Same sound today

如 is built from 口 (mouth) for its meaning and 女 (woman) for its sound.

Open 如 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
婁
婁lóu數shù(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.

Open 数 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢑓
𢑓𢑓家jiā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The early drawing of 家 showed a roof 宀 over a male-pig sign 𢑓 that gave the pronunciation; the lower part later changed shape.

Open 家 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yù
Sound part声符shēngfú
㐱
㐱㐱珍
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

珍 pairs 玉, a jade or gem, with 㐱, which gives the sound; the 玉 part fits its early meaning of a rich gemstone.

Open 珍 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.