脍炙人口 (kuài zhì rén kǒu) — (idiom) widely acclaimed, universally appreciated (especially of literary or artistic works)

Definition

A chengyu meaning a work (poem, song, novel) is loved and praised by everyone. Applies only to literary or artistic pieces, not people or general popularity.

idiom
widely acclaimeduniversally appreciated (especially of literary or artistic works)

Examples

  • 脍炙人口。
    Tā de shī zuò lì lái kuài zhì rén kǒu.
    His poems have always been universally appreciated.
  • ，脍炙人口。
    Zhè shǒu gē qǔ xuán lǜ yōu měi, kuài zhì rén kǒu.
    This song has a beautiful melody and is widely loved.
  • ，脍炙人口。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō miáo xiě shēng dòng, què shí kuài zhì rén kǒu.
    The descriptions in this novel are vivid, and it is truly universally appreciated.

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 膾; 脍 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròu
Sound part声符shēngfú
會
會huì膾kuài
Same sound today

The traditional form 膾 uses 肉 for meat and 會 for the sound; the simplified 脍 is a shorthand.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 炙 →

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

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

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Open 口 →

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