前程似锦 (qián chéng sì jǐn) — (idiom) splendid prospects; a bright and glorio… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A four-character idiom (成语) used to wish or predict a 'bright and glorious future' — a common congratulatory phrase, especially in formal speeches and well-wishes.

idiom

splendid prospectsa bright and glorious future

Examples

，前程似锦。
Bì yè diǎn lǐ shàng, lǎo shī zhù suǒ yǒu xué shēng qián chéng sì jǐn.
At the graduation ceremony, the teacher wished all students a bright future.
，前程似锦。
Zhǐ yào nǔ lì fèn dòu, nǐ yí dìng huì yǒu qián chéng sì jǐn de yì tiān.
As long as you work hard, you will surely have a day of splendid prospects.
，前程似锦。
Zhè ge nián qīng rén hěn yǒu cái huá, dà jiā dōu shuō tā de wèi lái qián chéng sì jǐn.
This young person is very talented; everyone says his future is bright.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

前程ahead journey

前qiánahead程chéngjourney

偏正Modifier + head

似锦like brocade

似sìresemble锦jǐnbrocade

动宾Verb + object

前程 'ahead journey' with 似锦 'like brocade' gives splendid prospects.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

止止zhǐfoot
舟舟zhōuboat

In the older form of 前, 止 (foot) and 舟 (boat) showed a foot on a boat moving forward; in the current 前 those parts are shortened.

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

禾呈程

Meaning part形符xíngfú

禾禾hégrain

Sound part声符shēngfú

呈

呈chéng程chéng

Same sound today

程 is made from 禾 (grain) and 呈 (pronounced chéng); the evidence gives measurements.

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

亻以似

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénhuman

Sound part声符shēngfú

以

以yǐ似sì

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

似 pairs 亻 (human) with 以, which gives the sound.

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 錦; 锦 is its simplified writing.

金帛錦

Meaning part形符xíngfú

帛帛bó

Sound part声符shēngfú

金

金jīn錦jǐn

Same sound today

The traditional form 錦 pairs 金, which gives its sound, with 帛, cloth.

Appears in

Idioms & Set Phrases Success & Failure

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