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锦上添花 (jǐn shàng-tiān huā) — to add splendor to what is already beautiful; to make a good thing even better

Definition

Used when something already good gets an extra bonus that makes it even better — an addition, not the main event. 画龙点睛 is a single decisive finishing touch; 锦上添花 is a bonus on top of something already complete.

phrase
to add splendor to what is already beautifulto make a good thing even better

Examples

  • ，锦上添花。
    Zhè chǎng wǎn huì de bù zhì yǐ jīng hěn měi le, zhè xiē xiān huā jiǎn zhí shì jǐn shàng-tiān huā.
    The decoration of this party was already beautiful; these flowers are truly the icing on the cake.
  • ，，锦上添花。
    Tā dé dào le zhè fèn gōng zuò, hái néng qù guó wài péi xùn, zhēn shì jǐn shàng-tiān huā.
    He got the job, and on top of that, he can go abroad for training—it's really making a good thing even better.
  • 锦上添花。
    Nǐ de zhù fú ràng zhè ge shēng rì jù huì jǐn shàng-tiān huā.
    Your wishes added even more joy to this birthday party.

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 錦; 锦 is its simplified writing.

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.

Open 锦 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
忝
忝tiǎn添tiān
Same sound today

添 pairs 水 (water) with 忝, which gives its sound; the shape pictures increasing by pouring more water in.

Open 添 →

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
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
化
化huà花
Same sound today

花 pairs 艹 (grass; plant) with 化, which gives the sound.

Open 花 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Idioms & Set Phrases

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