抛砖引玉 (pāo zhuān yǐn yù) — (idiom) to offer one's own humble remarks in order to elicit more valuable opinions from others

Definition

A humble self-deprecating idiom: 'throw out a brick to draw out jade' — the speaker offers a modest idea to invite better contributions from others. Use it to open a discussion, often in writing or speeches.

idiom
to offer one's own humble remarks in order to elicit more valuable opinions from others

Examples

  • ，抛砖引玉，。
    Wǒ xiān shuō jǐ jù, suàn shì pāo zhuān yǐn yù, xī wàng dà jiā duō tí bǎo guì yì jiàn.
    Let me start with a few words as a modest spur to invite everyone's valuable suggestions.
  • ，抛砖引玉，。
    Wǒ de guān diǎn hěn qiǎn bó, zhǐ shì pāo zhuān yǐn yù, huān yíng gè wèi pī píng zhǐ zhèng.
    My opinion is shallow — it's just my humble offering to invite your criticism and corrections.
  • ，，。
    Zhè ge tǎo lùn, wǒ xiān pāo gè zhuān, xī wàng néng yǐn chū dà jiā de měi yù lái.
    For this discussion, let me throw out a brick first, hoping to draw out everyone's jade.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 拋; 抛 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 拋, not 抛, shows 手 (hand), 尤, and 力 (power).

Open 抛 →

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 磚; 砖 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shírock
Sound part声符shēngfú
專
專zhuān磚zhuān
Same sound today

The traditional form 磚 uses 石 (rock) for the meaning and 專 for the sound; the simplified 砖 is a shorthand, so its right side is not the original part.

Open 砖 →

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

  • 弓弓gōngbow
  • 丿丿piěindicatory stroke

引 is made from 弓, a bow, and 丿, a short slant stroke added at the place where the string is pulled, marking the action of drawing or pulling.

Open 引 →

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

玉 was drawn as a ritual jade piece, or as jade pieces strung together, and was made distinct from 王 by adding a dot.

Open 玉 →

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