珠光宝气 (zhū guāng bǎo qì) — heavily bejeweled; dripping with jewels; ostentatiously adorned with jewelry

Definition

An idiom describing a person dripping with jewels and rich accessories, often with a connotation of gaudy or showy. Predicative or attributive, usually carries a slightly negative tone of being ostentatious.

idiom
heavily bejeweleddripping with jewelsostentatiously adorned with jewelry

Examples

  • 珠光宝气，。
    Tā jīn tiān chuān dé zhū guāng bǎo qì, yí kàn jiù zhī dào hěn yǒu qián.
    She is dressed today dripping with jewels; you can tell at a glance she's rich.
  • 珠光宝气，。
    Nà wèi nǚ shì zhū guāng bǎo qì, xī yǐn le suǒ yǒu rén de mù guāng.
    That lady is heavily bejeweled, attracting everyone's attention.
  • 珠光宝气，。
    Tā bù xǐ huan zhū guāng bǎo qì de dǎ bàn, jué de tài kuā zhāng le.
    She doesn't like dressing in a heavily bejeweled way; she thinks it's too exaggerated.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

珠光pearl light
珠zhūpearl光guānglight
偏正Modifier + head
宝气jewel aura
宝bǎojewel气qìaura
偏正Modifier + head

珠光 and 宝气 together picture the gleam of pearls and the aura of jewels.

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
𤣩Written in full as玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
朱
朱zhū珠zhū
Same sound today

The left side 𤣩, a form of 玉, connects the character to jade, while the right side 朱 gives the sound.

Open 珠 →

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

  • 火火huǒfire
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The shape 光 places 火 (fire) above 卩 (a kneeling person), showing fire over the head and the shining of light.

Open 光 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寶; 宝 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 琡琡chùjade
  • 貝貝bèicowry

The traditional form 寶 shows 宀 (house), 琡 (jade), and 貝 (cowry), drawn together as treasures in a house.

Open 宝 →

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →

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