薄如蝉翼
báo rú chán yì
as thin as a cicada’s wing
Character by character
薄báo
thin
thin
如rú
as
as
蝉chán
cicada
cicada
翼yì
wing
wing
Example
师傅切的羊肉片薄如蝉翼，放进锅里一烫就熟。
The chef’s lamb slices are paper-thin and cook the moment they touch the pot.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Said of silk, paper, fine porcelain and sliced meat. 薄 is read báo here, as in everyday speech.
Learn this in Lesson 94 · HSK 6–7: 瓷器：china 的由来 (Porcelain: why it is called china)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →