TongTong
Sign in

点石成金 (diǎn shí chéng jīn) — (idiom) to turn something ordinary or inferior into something excellent (of writing, art, skills)

Definition

Idiom: to turn something ordinary into something excellent through a small change or skill. Used for writing, editing, teaching, or any transformation that adds great value.

idiom
to turn something ordinary or inferior into something excellent (of writing, art, skills)

Examples

  • 点石成金，。
    Tā xiū gǎi hòu de wén zhāng jiǎn zhí jiù shì diǎn shí chéng jīn, cóng píng dàn biàn chéng le jīng diǎn.
    The article he revised is simply turning stone into gold — it went from bland to classic.
  • 点石成金，。
    Zhè wèi lǎo shī shàn yú diǎn shí chéng jīn, néng bǎ zuì pǔ tōng de xué shēng jiào chéng yōu xiù de rén cái.
    This teacher is skilled at turning stone into gold — able to teach even the most ordinary students into outstanding talents.
  • ，，点石成金。
    Jīng guò tā de gǎi zào, nà jiā lǎo diàn huàn rán yì xīn, zhēn shì diǎn shí chéng jīn.
    After his renovation, that old shop took on a completely new look — truly turning stone into gold.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
黑黑hēiblack
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn點diǎn(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 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Open 点 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 石 shows a stone under a cliff-like overhang, or a cave set into a cliff side.

Open 石 →

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
戊戊wù
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng成chéng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Open 成 →

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

金 was drawn with marks for two pieces of metal, along with a part that gave its sound; it first meant copper, then metals and gold.

Open 金 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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