东床快婿
dōng chuáng kuài xù
an ideal son-in-law
Character by character
东dōng
east
east
床chuáng
bed
bed
快kuài
fine
fine
婿xù
son-in-law
son-in-law
Example
老张的女婿又能干又孝顺，亲戚们都夸他是东床快婿。
Old Zhang’s son-in-law is capable and devoted to the family; the relatives all call him the perfect son-in-law.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From the 世说新语 and the Jin history: 郗鉴 chose the young 王羲之, who lay on the east bed, belly bare, as if nothing were going on. 东床 alone became an elegant word for son-in-law. Usually said in praise of someone else’s son-in-law rather than your own.
Learn this in Lesson 91 · HSK 6–7: 兰亭序与书法 (The Orchid Pavilion and the art of calligraphy)
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